Funeral Songs

We think of that ceremony, the funeral, our funeral, as being some glorious show of love and deep grieving for our loss, hoping that it could be a glorious send-off according to our vision of our lives that will honor what we fought for.  And that's if we know somehow who will be in attendance at our funeral.  Dad had to have been happy to see Marilyn, Bill Conroy, Vince Sullivan, and others at his funeral.  These were his most devoted allies.   

And we know too that funerals afford the bitter, resentful, and miserable an opportunity to air vicious lies about the deceased, which might be one of the reasons why religions have hymns instructing us to be reverent and joyful at life's end.  "Requiem Pie Jesu by Gabriel Faure."

#1

I'd like this song, Ashokan Farewell to be played at my funeral.

#2

Another song I'd like played is something in Gaelic. 

#3

 

There's nothing about this lament that reminds you of Amazing Grace.  

#4

This was interesting.

#5

Though this song is a bit heavy for a funeral song, I do like it. It's short. But most people are trying to remember the memorable features of the deceased, not the morose. 

#6

What a beautiful song by Sinead O'Connor, One More Day, 2003.  If you'd like, here are the lyrics.  It has a contemporary rhythm, but O'Connor's voice carries the tune to beautiful reaches.  I did like O'Connor's song "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart," from the soundtrack of In the Name of the Father, 1993. The song is played on the news of Guiseppe's dead in prison. 

#7

The Funeral, Sinead O'Connor.  This is a good one.  Contemporary enough and sung in Gaelic, a language that an English-speaking audience will find remote which should match their feeling about death.

#8

Here are the lyrics.  It's a beautiful song, but the lyrics and its beauty get lost in translation despite it being sung in Gaelic.  

Céile mo chroí, do croíse, ar Shlánaitheoir

Is císte mo chroí, do chroí sábhálaim comh thíar

O 's follas gur líon do chroí

Dom grása, a stór

Athair ré's a Íosa aicí lag bás, is mé in pian

Athair ré's a Íosa aicí lag bás, is mé in pian
Athair ré's a Íosa aicí lag bás, is mé in pian

Íosa. . . 

This translation comes from Google Translate.  Quite beautiful. 

Spouse of my heart, your heart, on Saviour

My heart is a cake, your heart I save together

Oh, it's clear that your heart is full

My grace, dear

Father, Jesus is weak and dying, I am in pain

Father, Jesus is weak and dying, I am in pain

Father, Jesus is weak and dying, I am in pain

Jesus…

Played at a low volume, this song could work.

 #9 Tupelo Honey, Van Morrison.

Two Rivers, Larry Unger.