Friday List: Goodbye Songs

Beatles - I'm Only Sleeping

Holy cow, what a lame list -

In no particular order

Ashokan Farewell
Sleepwalk (Santo and Johnny)
There's A Place For Us (Tom Waits)

Our Farewell- Within Temptation

Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

"Apes-Ma" - Captain Beefheart

Sarah McLachlan's "Angel"

I didn't know Bon Jovi did a version of "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" -- ironically, that's a Warren Zevon song.

"Bright Eyes" is just Garfunkel.

Stairway

Just to clarify, "Pie Jesu" is from Requiem by Gabriel Faure. There are dozens of requiems.

Sorry, was being funny. Isn't "I want to live forever" a weird song to play at a funeral? Why would people do this?

"Every Breath You Take"? Only if the deceased was murdered by a stalker.

It's always been "The Dance" by Garth Brooks.

What?!? No "Dust in the Wind"? You're my boy, Blue!

"And She Was" -- Talking Heads
"Golden Years" -- David Bowie
"Stand" -- REM

"I'll Be Missing You" by P. Diddy and Faith Eveans. I actually love the song (guilty pleasure), and I'd hope people would smile as they thought about Puffy dancing around in his white suit.

Not sure about myself, but my uncle wants us to play "Danger Zone" (from Top Gun) at his funeral. Good luck getting that one past the priest.

"Every Breath You Take" is not comforting even if the person is alive. It gives a whole new creepy factor is the person is dead.

Having heard S Club 7 songs, I can safely say that's the absolute last thing mourners should be subjected to.

I seriously think I would start laughing if I was a funeral and "Knocking on Heaven's Door" started playing!!

I think I would want some fun, happy Dave Matthews Band music - he sings a lot about death too, so it might be appropriate - perhaps some "Tripping Billies" - "Eat, Drink and Be Merry, For Tommorrow We Die" :)

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (the Eric Clapton version)

"Little Wing" (Jimi Hendrix)-- "Well, she's walking through the clouds...."

//Sleepwalk (Santo and Johnny)//
Yikes, that was our wedding song.

"Dweller on the Threshhold" - Van Morrison

"After You're Gone" - Iris DeMent

"Live Forever" - Shaver

both sweet songs about memories living on.

dancing queen - abba

I attended a funeral of a co-worker killed in a motorcycle accident where they played Garth Brook's "Friends in Low Places". I was appalled, but the rest of the mourners felt it was acceptable AND appropriate.

I've always liked "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes.

In the event one commits suicide....perhaps Don McClean's "Vincent"

"Here Comes the Sun" - The Beatles
"(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You" - Louis Prima
"Glad to See You Go" - The Ramones
"Not Fade Away" - The Crickets

I suppose it'd be sweet for those still alive that someone played Joe Satriani's "Flying in a Blue Dream" at my funeral, but I'd laugh my dead backside off if they played Motorhead's "Dancing on Your Grave" and/or Accept's "Son of a B!tch".

I guarantee some would not be able to contain their snickering.

In the event one commits suicide....perhaps Don McClean's "Vincent"

or maybe hung up - madonna

At first blush, this would at least bring some brevity, but if they listened to the words long enough, my loved ones would be crying their eyes out (just as I've ordered them to in my Last Will and Testament): "Freebird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

"Please Don't Bury Me" by John Prine.

"Secure Yourself (to Heaven)" by the Indigo Girls.

{Refrain}
Secure yourself to heaven
Hold on tight, the night has come
Fasten up your earthly burdens
You have just begun

In the ink of an eye I saw you bleed
Through the thunder I could hear you scream
Solid to the air I breathe
Open-eyed and fast asleep
Falling softly as the rain
No footsteps ringing in your ears
Ragged down worn to the skin
Warrior raging, have no fear

{Refrain}

I'm kneeling down with broken prayers
Hearts and bones from days of youth
Restless with an angel's wing
I dig a grave to bury you
No feet to fall, you need no ground
Allowed to glide right through the sun
Released from circles guarded tight
Now we all are chosen ones

{Refrain twice}

"Please Don't Bury Me" by John Prine.

"One Sweet Day" - Boyz II Men/Mariah Carey

"It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday" - G.C. Cameron(Original) Boyz II Men(Remake)

How is "My Way" not on the list?!

Handel's Messiah:
1) Since by man came death
2) By man came also the resurrection of the dead
3) For as in Adam all die
4) Even so in Christ shall all be made alive

Dear Friends (?) Queen

So dear friends, a love is gone
Only tears to dwell upon
I dare not say as the winds must blow
So a love is lost, a love is won

Go to sleep and dream again
Soon your hopes will rise and then
From all this gloom life can start anew
And there'll be no crying soon

Eeeeew! James Blunt?! Listening to that crap would make me want to kill myself right there at the funeral. Maybe I could get a 2-for-1 deal.

BUT, I've never really wanted a funeral. I'd much prefer to just be cremated and scattered somewhere, then have my friends have a picnic or something where they could talk and listen to music. They would have to play "Every Day Is Like Sunday" by Morrissey, however, just because I've always loved that song so much.

i would want

amazing grace--duh
lightning bar blues--arlo guthrie
imagine--john lennon
i'll fly away--willie nelson

Jeff Buckley's haunting version of "Satisfied Mind"
DeVotchKa's "Dearly Departed"
Billy Bragg & Wilco's "Another Man's Done Gone" (lyrics by Woodie Guthrie)

And of course, I don't want people to go home sad... Finish it off with MC5's "Kick Out The Jams"! (I would pay to see that blasting at a funeral!)

Europe's "The Final Countdown". I require nothing less.

I want Tom Verlaine's "Postcard from Waterloo" played at mine, while my brother has requested "Asa's Death" from Peer Gynt.

At my mother's funeral 2 years ago, we played "Sunrise, Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof.

'I Used to Love Her, But I Had to Kill Her'-GNR

When I kick, I want any of the following played/sung/etc.:

1. Rod Stewart's Version of "People Get Ready" with Jeff Beck on guitar

2. Blind Boys of Alabama's version of "Amazing Grace" set to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun"

3. "My Old Friend" by Carl Perkins and Paul McCartney

4. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" as sung by Dolly Parton and Ladysmith Black Mombazo.

I know it's been done to death (har har) but I'd like "Over the Rainbow" by Iz.

Ahhh funeral songs, such fun.
My sister and I talked about this YEARS ago and I decided I wanted nothing but happy songs sung at my funeral. In Germany (where we lived when we had this morbid conversation) funerals tend to be more a celebration of the person's life and they have a big party. Which is what I want. So here they are, my request list for when I kick off.
I'll fly Away-by Allison Kraus
Spirt in the Sky -how could you NOT play this song?
My Sweet Lord
and some hymns, but HAPPY ones.

Freebird!

When I read Liz's question, the following song immediately came to mind, unbidden and without giving it any thought: "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats. I don't know why, because I was never a fan. Even worse, the more I think about it, the more sense it seems to make. Seriously.

Is there something wrong with me?

WHAT!??

No one has put "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the Rolling Stones on this list?!?

Are y'all sleeping, or something??

As a Tar Heel girl, I'd have to go with "Carolina in my mind" by James Taylor.

Second that: Rainbow/Wonderful World, -Iz

In order...
Oh Death-Ralph Stanley
Franklin's Tower-Grateful Dead
Keep Me in Your Heart-Warren Zevon

Stars Are Blind - Paris Hilton
Turds - Shelley Marsh
They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! - Napoleon XIV

Twistin' By The Pool-Dire Straits

That made me almost spit my lunch across my death - final countdown is a GREAT selection!!!

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned "Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw.

Seasons in the Sun.

How can a British list not list three great Queen songs for such an occassion:
Those Were the Days of Our Lives
Show Must Go On
Who Wants to Live Forever

I also know that at my mom's funeral (hopefully still year's away) in addition to the Queen songs, we have to play "November Rain" by GNR, probably also "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd.

Oy vey, there are some terrible choices out there. I think I have to give my family a list of classical music to play at my funeral. We're all classical music fans, so I don't really have to worry, but at least they'd know what I want my mourners to hear. Things like:

Albinoni - "Adagio"
Mozart - Requiem: "Lachrymosa"
Mahler - Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" (the entire thing, if I'm famous enough to warrant a memorial concert)

As for actual songs:

Pink Floyd - "Wish You Were Here"
Dream Theater - "The Spirit Carries On"

amazing grace (even as a non chrisitan i love that song)

somewhere over the rainbow (any version)

the A-Team theme song

WITH OR WITHOUT YOU???? "I can't live, with or without you..." It is all about the hellishness of a relationship and how he cannot live with her. That is a bizarre choice. About as weird as the wedding I attended where the "intriducing the New Mr. and Mrs. X!!!" song that the new couple ran into the room on was ......"Tainted Love" I ---- you not.

How about I Believe by Brooks & Dunn. Or Jesus Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood.

"Bell, Book, and Candle" by Eddi Reader
"Sand and Water" by Beth Neilsen Chapman

"Didn't we almost have it all" - W. Houston

"My Immortal" - Evanessance
The line "I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone." will have the mourners wailing!

They played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes at my father's graveside service 20 years ago. I still get teary-eyed when I hear that hymm on bagpipes.

Cirlce of Life - elton john/tim rice

It just seems so appropriate. Plue I'm a huge Lion King fan.

Rooster - Alice in Chains
Birthday Boys - Oysterhead ("I don't mind, if you come around and drink up all my wine")
This Party Sucks - Slickee Boys (it's on mp3.washingtonpost.com -- hilarious and awesome song)

no woman no cry- bob marley

Nina Simone - Ne Me Quitte Pas

"Dead Flowers" by the Rolling Stones
(" . . . and I won't forget to put roses on your grave.")

Too morbid? How about "My Generation"? ("Hope I die before I get old.")

Not goofy enough? Then I second Doc's suggestion. "Safety Dance" it is!

("Seasons in the Sun"?? Now THAT'S just being mean to the mourners.)

Wham's "Wake me up, before you go-go"
Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way"
Doris Day "Que sera, sera"

The Go-Gos, "Our Lips are Sealed"

In the same vein as "Another Man's Done Gone" I'd pick "Airline to Heaven" by Billy Bragg/Wilco --

"If the world looks wrong
And your money's spent and gone
And your friend has turned away

You can get away to heaven
On this aeroplane
Just bow your head and pray"

"Heaven and Hell" Black Sabbath

"The Passenger" Iggy Pop

Also, a ton of songs from O Brother would be good -- "Angel Band" comes to mind, as well as "I'll Fly Away". And "I Am Weary" -- all would probably make me cry at a funeral.

If you Were Here by Poe would be good, asw ell.

We chose the music for my mom's funeral carefully. We wanted to avoid Amazing Grace, etc. We walked in to Battle Hymn of the Republic because she was a history teacher and would have loved that, and we walked out to Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire because it is beautiful and warm. One of her students chose to sing during the mass, though, and while I hate Celine Dion every time I hear "Because You Loved Me" I cry like a baby.

It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it:

"Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen

Until The End of the World and Last Night on Earth by U2; but if only one song could be played it has to be BURNING OF THE MIDNIGHT LAMP by Jimi Hendrix.

Fly From Heaven - Toad the Wet Sprocket
This Side - Nickel Creek
Galileo - Indigo Girls
A Living Prayer - Alison Krauss + Union Station
Baby I'm a Big Star Now - Counting Crows
I'll Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie
A Praise Chorus - Jimmy Eat World
Christina - Patty Griffin
Prayer of St. Francis - Sarah McLachlan

I'm sure I'm missing a bunch, but it's a start. Maybe "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" by the Flaming Lips for good measure?

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the late Eva Cassidy. Her versions of "What a Wonderful World" and the hymn "How Can I Keep From Singing" are amazing. The second song is my pick. From the opening lines "My life goes on, and endless song...

this is sort of funeral-related. i went to a memorial service the friday after 9/11 in honor of that day & they started playing 'lean on me', which, ok, a little upbeat given the occasion, but a nice sentiment. after that song ended, the next song on the tape came on to play 'purple rain'. my theory was that it was somebody's mix tape & they didn't hit 'stop' soon enough.

Sarah McLachlan's "Angel"

I think for a funeral, especially given that we all read and post on this blog, our ultimate goal has to be lighters in the air. To that end, there's no contest:

"Free Bird" Lynyrd Skynyrd

The recessional at the funeral of a longtime colleague, who had been a World War II fighter pilot, was "Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder." The congregration, once it got over its surprise, joined in the singing, and capped it off with a standing ovation.

As for me, I want Jessye Norman's rendition of Richard Strauss's "Im Abendrot."

"I'll be on my way" by the Saw Doctors.

Little known Irish band, best song I've ever heard at a funeral...

"Kissed by a rose" -Seal

Maybe I have a twisted sense of humor, but "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" by AC/DC could be at mine...only if that's not how I go, though.

"Bright Eyes" is Art Garfunkel, not Simon and Garfunkel.

My list:
"10th Avenue Freeze Out"- Bruce Springsteen

"Coma"- Guns N' Roses: this is what I want played if I die in a coma

"Eruption" -Van Halen: why the hell not?

"No One Lives Forever" - Oingo Boingo
"Enjoy Yourself - It's Later Than You Think" - The Specials

Little Wing-Derek and the Dominos

How I wish it would rain-Temptations

What is Life-George Harrison

Paradise City, Guns and Roses

....If it's determined that I lived a not-so-good life:

Highway to Hell, ACDC
Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash

My list:
I believe I can fly-R Kelly
Somewhere-from Westside Story
Workout-Jackie Wilson(leave 'em on a high note)

P.S. My sister is not to sing Amazing Grace( she'll just mess it up)

"Acknowledgement" (aka Part 1 of "A Love Supreme") by John Coltrane.

"Long Black Veil" by Lefty Frizzell, if I want to tick off my wife.

Some good version of "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You," which she will add to the playlist once she gets a look at "Long Black Veil."

And if there's still time, Laura Nyro's "And When I Die."

yo la tengo - "our way to fall"
superchunk - "detroit has a skyline too (acoustic)"
red house painters - "san geronimo"
guided by voices - "motor away"
tom petty - "time to move on"
the replacements - "skyway"
the smiths - "there is a light that never goes out"
elvis costello - "man out of time"
gram parsons - "return of the grievous angel"
joni mitchell - "a case of you"
john lennon - "oh yoko!"
van morrison - "into the mystic"

"Old and wise" by the Alan Parsons Project

What a lame list !

How about 'In my Life " by the Beatles?

Or for those a little older Roy Rogers--the cowboy , not the restaurant-- "Happy Trails"

I think that list got switched with the LIST OF SONGS YOU'LL HEAR PIPED IN OVER THE P.A. NEXT TIME YOU GO TO GIANT.

I think I would just want a ton of organ music. Organs always make me tear up. But I guess that any Dashboard Confessional song would have the same effect. The real list:
Lua - Bright Eyes
Stumbleine - Smashing Pumpkins
Tubthumping - ChumbaWamba

In the following order:

"Yellow Ledbetter" -- Pearl Jam
"The Letter" -- Macy Gray
"Alive" -- Beastie Boys

I like "There will never be another you" as sung by Nat King Cole.

Also, "Peace in the Valley" as sung by Johnny Cash

Forgot my pick... it would have to be two songs by Brian Wilson: "Love and Mercy" and "Til I Die."

And then maybe to lift everyone's spirits as they left, "No More Blues" by Dizzy Gillespie.

Who is, incidentally, dead.

Hmmmm, I think I would want the following:

1. Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings

2. Queen's I Want to Break Free

3. The hymn Breathe on me Breath of God.

"Je Ne Regrette Rien" by Edith Piaf

The Faure Requiem

"I Grieve" by Peter Gabriel

"Goin' Out" by Sarah Harmer

For a Dancer (Jackson Browne)

She Goes On (Crowded House)

Skating Away (Jethro Tull)

country roads - john denver

"Many Rivers to Cross" - Jimmy Cliff

Turn, Turn, Turn
The Rest (Will take care of itself.)
Native Son

The Grateful Dead -- gulp! -- "Black Muddy River."

Also: Toussaint McCall, "Nothing Takes The Place Of You."

Dust in the Wind

I can see clearly now

Do the Funky Penguin-Rufus Thomas
Do the Funky Chicken-Rufus Thomas
Funky Hot Grits- Rufus Thomas

These would be the best because I know it would bother Liz. So I could have one more laugh.

The Dark -- Trans-Siberian Orchestra, from "Beethoven's Last Night"

Agreed on "Je Ne Regrette Rien" by Piaf, had forgotten about that one.

"MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME" -- 3 Dog Night

"Gallow's Pole" - Led Zeppelin

"The End" -- Beatles

I've always liked the idea of Metallica's "Enter Sandman." Or "Margaritaville," as long as the bar was still open. Yes, there will be a bar at my funeral.

I was waiting for someone to list Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic." I always had a sneaking suspicion that song was about death...

Siren Song by Dead Can Dance
Everybody Loves You When You're Dead by Cop Shoot Cop

Ooohhh! For YEARS i have wanted to pick my songs:

(1) Green Day's "Good Riddance" (more often known as "I hope you've had the time of your life") http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/greenday/goodriddancetimeofyourlife.html

and (2) "Silence" by Delerium/Sarah Mclachlan
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/delerium-silence-lyrics.html

Gallow's Pole is an excellent choice!

I'll add "Going to California" from Zep as well. Cuz you know, i wanna "smoke my stuff and drink all my wine" before i go!

also:

"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (why has no one else said this???)

"Straight to Hell" by The Clash (depending on how i lived my life)

"Electric Funeral" by Black Sabbath

"THE END" by The Doors

Wildfire

What about Send Me on My Way by Rusted Root?

for the Bangles, forget Eternal Flame, go with Crash and Burn

second act, Ramblin' Jack Eliot's version of Freight Train

for the big send off, "How Much of What We Did Was Good?", Chou Enlai's solo in the 3rd act of Nixon in China, Adams-music, Goodman-libretto

or Wildfire, either or

I was gonna say that, Gene.

"Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds

And what is so goofy about "Safety Dance"? If I wanted something REALLY goofy, I would have them play "Hang On Sloopy"

How about 'Walking on Sunshine'. I mean...I'm dead. Nothing else could go wrong.

What about "I Will Remember You" - Sarah McLachlan????

In-a-gadda-da-vida by Iron Butterfly

"Good Riddance" - Green Day

"End of the Line" by the Traveling Wilburys.

"'Didn't we almost have it all' - W. Houston"

hahahahahaha!

god, how morbid. i guess it fits with the atrocious weather today.

"knockin' on heaven's door" by warren zevon. no other version will do. that one fits too well.

"asleep," the smiths. that's in hoping that i live long enough for the words to apply.

"i'll follow you into the dark," death cab for cutie. (this was way cooler before one of those shows everyone in the world but me watches, like grey's anatomy or desperate housewives or whatever, picked the song up.)

"the rebel's goodbye," greg graffin. i hope i live up to this request.

Many good ones above but Keef singing "Before They Make Me Run" has been my number one since I was in college.

Add "Dead Man's Party" from Oingo Boingo and "It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)" by REM

"Send Lawyers, Guns and Money" from Warren Zevon as the recessional ("Dad, get me out of THIS one!")

I got to agree with Wildfire.
The one good thing about being dead is that I won't have to hear it.

For some reason, everyone in my family likes to tell ME which song they want. Somehow, I'm going to end up picking the music for everyone I know!

My husband wants Back in Black - ACDC
My mom wants River in Judea
My dad wants Amazing Grace on the bagpipes (he's an Irish retired cop - makes sense)
My godfather wants Here I am Lord

I've been too busy getting all these requests down to even think about my own!

I've always liked Natalie Merchant's "Beloved Wife"--it is the song I would have like to play at my grandparents funeral:

you were the love
for certain of my life
you were simply my beloved wife
I don't know for certain
how I'll live my life
now alone without my beloved wife
my beloved wife

I can't believe
I've lost the very best of me

you were the love
for certain of my life
you were simply my beloved wife
I don't know for certain
how I'll live my life
now alone without my beloved wife
my beloved wife

I can't believe
I've lost the very best of me

you were the love
for certain of my life
for fifty years simply my beloved wife

with another love I'll never lie again
it's you I can't deny
it's you I can't defy
a depth so deep into my grief
without my beloved soul
I renounce my life
as my right
now alone without my beloved wife
my beloved wife
my beloved wife

my love is gone she suffered long
in hours of pain

my love is gone
now my suffering begins

my love is gone
would it be wrong if I should
surrender all the joy in my life
go with her tonight?

my love is gone she suffered long
in hours of pain

Some of these are odd but mostly great. I will have to leave money for a day long music event.

I associate both "Champagne Supernova" by Oasis and "Crossroads" by Bone Thugs N Harmony with a friend's funeral in 1996.

my sweet lord - george harrison

I love this song by Mary Chapin Carpenter:

Fare thee well
My own true love
Farewell for a while
I'm going away
But I'll be back
Though I go 10,000 miles

10,000 miles
My own true love
10,000 miles or more
The rocks may melt
And the seas may burn
If I should not return

Oh don't you see
That lonesome dove
Sitting on an ivy tree
She's weeping for
Her own true love
As I shall weep for mine

Oh come ye back
My own true love
And stay a while with me
If I had a friend
All on this earth
You've been a friend to me

I attended a funeral a couple years back where they played "Time of your Life (Good Riddance)" by Green Day, "Wonderwall" by Oasis and "It's True We Love One Another" by the White Stripes. The person who passed away was in their teens, so it made sense.

#9 Dream - John Lennon
Remember - Harry Nilsson

Both achingly beautiful songs.

after thinking about it, i think i'd like to have "walk like an egyptian" by the bangles played as a recessional.

Actually, I'd like Bruce Springsteen to sing "The Strife Is O'er" (acapella).

He could really belt out those "hallalujas" for me.

For the service: The entirety of John Rutter's "Requiem".
For the wake: Foo Fighter's "DOA" and "Hell", played back-to-back.

I have always thought this one would be a great song for my funeral: It's the End of the World as we Know It (and I Feel Fine), REM. Really.

"And She Was" is hilarious!

How about "No Woman No Cry"?

"Send lawyers, guns and money/And get me out of here" would be my sentiment. That, and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner."

How could they leave out IS THAT ALL THERE IS by Peggy Lee???

I second John Prine's Please Don't Bury Me. It's about organ donation & would be a great sing-along. "Please don't bury me down in the cold cold ground. I'd rather have 'em cut me up and pass me all around." Then he goes on to say where his parts should go, such as giving his stomach to Milwaukee if they run out of beer.

And I have add a German song we used to sing at St. John's College: Tod ist ein langer schlaf. (Death is a long sleep.)

By the way, I was recently at a funeral where Into the Mystic was played. It was a real tear-jerker for most of us. The old traditionalists didn't like it much though.

Wondrous Stories by Yes - the ascending notes at the end remind me of going up to heaven (not that I think heaven is really "up" but anyway...)

Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd - my friend came up with that one as a teenager as something she wanted to be played at her funeral.

Don't Fear The Reaper - BOC

All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain..we can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper

"Thank You" by Led Zeppelin

"He Was a Friend of Mine" by Willie Nelson

I saw a couple of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic", but my choice would be "bright side of the road"

Two already chosen:
Forever Young by Rod Stewart--my kids will laugh and remember us singing this loudly in the car with all the windows rolled down

and Every Long Journey by folksinger Ann Reed--this has become a song sung at our family celebrations--it is beautiful

There had better NOT be any music at my funeral but if I had to choose...

It's a Shame about Ray. Because it is.

That or Girlfriend in a Coma (It's Serious!)

The Sky is Crying - Stevie Ray Vaughn
You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker

And if you want to send your mourners into a serious depression:

Not Ready Yet - The Eels
Cold Cold Ground - Tom Waits
A Man Alone - Frank Sinatra

Have a nice day!

Goodbye by Patty Griffin

Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley version)

Across the Universe (Rufus Wainwright version)

Flamenco Sketches - Miles Davis

Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Someday We'll be together

Both performed by a Full Gospel Chior

Another one bites the dust!

"What a Difference You've Made in My Life" --Ronnie Milsap. Good for both the mourners and the departed, and upbeat to boot. A definite fir me.

If you want to wring the tears out of them, try:
"Everything I Own" -- Bread
"Go Rest High on that Mountain" -- Vince Gill
"Up Where You Are" -- Josh Groban

A friend of mine has demanded "Throwing It All Away" by Genesis for his funeral, whenever that day comes.

the same song I walked into my wedding reception to- Blitzkrieg Bop

The two best songs I've heard at funerals were vastly different but were each perfect, leaving us uplifted instead of weepy. For my Dad: some lively gospel sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford. For my husband's friend, killed in his mid-30s: Great Gig in the Sky, by Pink Floyd.

I will Survive - Cake
Do You Realize? - Flaming Lips

I'm jealous of Alan - The Beatles' "I'm Only Sleeping" is the best answer of all, and he posted first!

The saddest song I've ever heard played at a funeral was Cat Stevens' "Oh Very Young", played by one of my college classmates at the funeral of another, a beautiful young girl who left us too soon. It still makes me weep...

Lucky by Bif Naked
This was my wedding song.

Not Alone by Patty Griffin
This one fits me and my husband
perfectly.

The Special Two by Missy Higgins
I had them play this at my best friend Levi's funeral. It just fit for us, he was the one who gave me away at my wedding.

Beautiful Wreck by Shawn Mullins
Levi once told me he thought about me every time he heard this song.