Most requested funeral songs

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by honeychile

That was my first thought - I have never been to a Christian funeral without Amazing Grace (extra points for having a bagpiper).

I think Amazing Grace at funerals is a very North American thing. I hear that in the UK, they prefer "All Things Bright and Beautiful" (personally, I find the hymn a little irritating, but anyway)

In terms of secular songs, Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" (don't know if I'd use it. Isn't it about a recovering heroine addict??) used quite a bit, as is her "I Will Remember You"

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

I hear that in the UK, they prefer "All Things Bright and Beautiful" (personally, I find the hymn a little irritating, but anyway)

They use a different tune from the standard North American one, though. Always makes me think of the Monty Python take-off, Ode to Creation:

All things dull and ugly,
All creatures short and squat,
All things rude and nasty,
The Lord God made the lot.

Each little snake that poisons,
Each little wasp that stings --
He made their brutish venom.
He made their horrid wings.

[NutBrnHair]

"In the Garden"
"Beyond the Sunset"
"Amazing Grace"

[KSUViolet06]

In 2001, two girls from my HS passed away from drug overdoses. The parents of the girls told their friend that his band could play a song at their joint funeral (the 2 girls were best friends).

Well their friend's band felt that Green Day's "The Time of Your Life" was appropriate.

If you don't know, the song says:

"It's something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life."

Well one of the girls' moms stormed out of the funeral when she heard the lyrics because she felt that they weren't appropriate (given the way they had died).

[epchick]

Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You"

That is what I would have thought. I remember when a good friend of my aunt's died, this was the song they played at her funeral.

Originally Posted by DolphinChicaDDD

bust out crying every time I hear Amazing Grace.

I'm the same way! My grandmother died 10 years ago, and that was the song they played at her funeral. Her death had a huge impact on me, so to this day its hard to hear the song (i have to plug up my ears, but i still cry).

So i kinda thought as a way to heal, i'd get the first few bars (musical notes and all) of Amazing Grace tattooed on my lower back. Don't know if i'll actually do it though! lol

[33girl]

This thread is making me think that I need to call up my lawyer and make an addendum to my will of things I do NOT want played at my funeral.

[greeklawgirl]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This thread is making me think that I need to call up my lawyer and make an addendum to my will of things I do NOT want played at my funeral.

Haha, some djs were talking about this list on the radio this morning and I told my husband, "If you play any of these songs at my funeral, mark my words, I will come back and haunt you!!"

Originally Posted by 33girl

This thread is making me think that I need to call up my lawyer and make an addendum to my will of things I do NOT want played at my funeral.

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.