I agree. My grandmother and I shared the same dislike for Amazing Grace. When she passed last year, my aunt and cousins were putting together the program for her memorial service, they insisted on Amazing Grace even though they knew how much she hated it. That pissed me off, so I went behind their back, destroyed their CD (it was burned) and replaced it with "Nearer my God to Thee".

I've probably been to more funerals than all of you combined this year. I don't know why people think it's necessary to have freaking Amazing Grace at a funeral. I don't know why there's a need for depressing songs, for that matter.

The best songs I've ever heard at a service? Praise and worship songs. When we remembered my friend at his service earlier this year, Darlene Zszech's "Shout to the Lord" was the final song they played and that brought more comfort to me than any song ever did.

My paternal grandparents' funerals had this song called "Walk With Me." I haven't heard it since.

My maternal grandfather's funeral ended with "My Way." Considering how he died, I thought it was...interesting. Appropriate in a really not appropriate way.

I want "All Apologies" by Nirvana to be played at my funeral

That song officially went off my 'list', or at least the one with lyrics, after I discovered the history and profession of the author... which he continued even after "seeing the light".

The bagpipe version would still be okay - but I can't stand hearing the lyrics of the hymn now without think of the where, when, and why it was written :(

Amazing Grace and Eagles Wings are the two I've always heard at funerals. I think Eagles Wings might be a Catholic thing? "And He will raise you up on eagle's wings..." I don't care for Amazing Grace, but I love Eagle's Wings.

We sing Eagle's Wings at my ELCA church.

Whoever said "Seasons of Love" - If you're going with contemporary music, I believe it's a good choice...a little "copycat", as that's one of the times it appears in the show, but still a good choice.

If you are talking about the gospel song, I know that song and love it.

So do we. Boy, do we ever. Over and over. Week in, week out.

When I first heard it, all I could think of was John Ashcroft singing "Let the Eagle Soar."

This thread is depressing. :(

I bet the author of this thread is really wishing she never made such a gay thread.

We sing On Eagles Wings at my Catholic Church and every time we do, I tell my husband that I want it played at my funeral. He has heard me say that so many times now that when he hears it announced he has started telling ME that he is having it played at my funeral.

And I don't think most Catholic Churches allow "secular" music played during the funeral mass, I know we weren't allowed to have secular music played during our wedding.

Ditto on the secular thing. From my experience, if a secular song is going to be played at a funeral or wedding it happens before the actual Mass starts.

I was just thinking about this thread yesterday when I heard the aria "When I am Laid" from Dido & Aeneas...I think I want someone to sing that live at my funeral. That would be great.

I don't know about you all, but I cry every time I watch the funeral scene in 'Love Actually' where they play the Bay City Rollers' 'Bye Bye Baby'.

My sister plays the harp, and she's been hired for more than a few funerals. She can play Amazing Grace in her sleep.

I think Larry Gatlin's "Midnight Choir" would be appropriate:

Do they have Mogen David in heaven,
dear Lord we all want to know,
do they have Mogen David in heaven,
if they don't, who the hell wants to go!