Sunday, October 09, 2011

A Song You Want to Play at Your Funeral

I do not wish to play any song at my funeral.

First of all, I will be dead, and thus in no condition to perform in any capacity as relates to music.

Second, though I do like music, I'd rather have someone else perform. Preferably this person or persons would be good enough to raise a tear or two, and inspire people to say, "gosh, this church has some nice tunes." A lot of the people I would hope would consider attending my funeral aren't really church-goers, so I'd ideally get to share with them some of why I am.

Sheesh, but I sound preachy: sorry.

For the sake of argument, I'll assume that the question's intent is, "what song would you choose to have performed at your funeral?"

Serious answer: lots of good, loud, chestnut-style hymns. I tend to like some of the quirky ones ("Come Labor On" "God is Working His Purpose Out") that not a lot of folks know and fewer like. I want this music to be fun and moving for those who sing it yes, congregation, I mean you) so something such as For All the Saints, which goes on for many verses, would be ideal.

Note: I picked this YouTube version because it's a kid playing with mastery of the instrument, and you can his see feet and hands: way cool, very well done.

OK, so the funeral is over and some of my loved ones have no desire to set foot in a sacred space again - what now? Something pretty and soft, please - maybe a little Mozart.

3 comments:

FreshHell said...

I'm gonna come to your funeral and play a Paul McCartney medley. :)

edj3 said...

Kent knows I want "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" played at my funeral.

Joe said...

I see your Prescriptive Grammarian, and raise you a Condescending Sarcasm.

If _I'm_ to perform music at my funeral, my mind goes immediately to Thriller, Monster Mash, or maybe Bela Lugosi's Dead.

To be a little more subtle, perhaps Back in Black or We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.

And now I'm thinking of Spinal Tap's "Rock and Roll Creation" - the scene where Derek Smalls can't get out of the pod.