When you die, what song do you want played at your funeral?

Question

Or at your memorial, or at whatever ceremony you plan for your family to organize.

Answer 1

If my family is no longer living at that time, then something by M. S. Subbulakshmi, my all-time favorite Hindu singer. However, if my parents and brother are still living, then I want something played which will give them great comfort, and a Hindu song in a language they don't understand probably wouldn't be of much help to them. So I want them to play something that they like, that is comforting and meaningful for them.

Or a good one might be a song I know which uses the words of St. Francis' prayer where he says "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace...where there's hatred, let me sow your love..." This is what I hope people would remember me as one who at least tried to do that. And the song could serve as a reminder to everyone living that this is the message I wanted to send. And that I hope they will continue to try.

Answer 2

I will not have a funeral, but I can imagine The Spirit Carries on by Dream Theater would appeal to any theist or agnostic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwOhtHVn6GE&mode=related&search=

Lyrics follow:

Nicholas:
Where did we come from?
Why are we here?
Where do we go when we die?
What lies beyond
And what lay before?
Is anything certain in life?

They say, life is too short,
The here and the now
And you're only given one shot
But could there be more,
Have I lived before,
Or could this be all that we've got?

If I die tomorrow
I'd be all right
Because I believe
That after were gone
The spirit carries on

I used to be frightened of dying
I used to think death was the end
But that was before
I'm not scared anymore
I know that my soul will transcend

I may never find all the answers
I may never understand why
I may never prove
What I know to be true
But I know that I still have to try

If I die tomorrow
Id be all right
Because I believe
That after were gone
The spirit carries on

Victoria:
Move on, be brave
Don't weep at my grave
Because I am no longer here
But please never let
Your memory of me disappear

Nicholas:
Safe in the light that surrounds me
Free of the fear and the pain
My questioning mind
Has helped me to find
The meaning in my life again
Victoria's real
I finally feel
At peace with the girl in my dreams
And now that I'm here
Its perfectly clear
I found out what all of this means

If I die tomorrow
Id be all right
Because I believe
That after were gone
The spirit carries on

Something I find remarkable is that theists and atheists alike have one thing in common. They seem to want as little fuss as possible made over their deaths, and they generally prefer that their be an air of irreverence or whimsy to accompany the event. Most interesting.

Answer 3

Well I am getting cremated and basically I just want everyone to party after and have fun, no crying and wah wah just a celebration of my life not my death... as such any music they like will be fine with me but there HAS to be some AC/DC in there, Tori Amos, Tool, Steve Miller band... and above all Nine Inch Nails... thats probably the one band whos music I want played in my memory.. "The Great Below" by NIN I would love to be played in my memory.. in fact I wish they would play the whole Fragile album its awesome!!

staring at the sea
will she come?
is there hope for me
after all is said and done
anything at any price
all of this for you
all the spoils of a wasted life
all of this for you
all the world has closed her eyes
tired faith all worn and thin
for all we could have done
and all that could have been

ocean pulls me close
and whispers in my ear
the destiny i've chose
all becoming clear
the currents have their say
the time is drawing near
washes me away
makes me disappear

i descend from grace
in arms of undertow
i will take my place
in the great below

i can still feel you
even so far away

Answer 4

Amazing Grace
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Go Rest High On The Mountain

The Skeptical Christian
Grace and Peace
Peg

Answer 5

Amazing Grace is an obvious choice. But I also think I would like to have "Life Is A Highway" by Rascall Flatts played as well. And "Can't Turn The Tide" by Bailey and The Boys.

Answer 6

OH Gold star for you great question... Of course as soon as I read the question I forgot the name of the song ... lemme go look OOOH Yeah... Here ya go I'll even post the lyrics for you. It's a very old very powerful song.

I am just a poor wayfaring stranger,
While traveling through this world of woe.
Yet there’s no sickness, toil nor danger
In that bright land to which I go.
I’m going there to see my Father;
I’m going there no more to roam.

Refrain

I’m justa going over Jordan,
I’m justa going over home.

I know dark clouds will gather round me;
I know my way is rough and steep.
But golden fields lie out before me
Where God’s redeemed no more shall weep.
I’m going there to see my mother,
She said she’d meet me when I come.

Refrain

I’ll soon be free from every trial,
My body sleep in the churchyard;
I’ll drop the cross of self denial
And enter on my great reward.
I’m going there to see my Savior,
To sing His praise forevermore.

Refrain

Answer 7

(Always Look On) The Bright Side of Life-Monty Python
I Don't Want to Live This Life, and Pet Semetary - The Ramones
Na Na Na Na Hey Hey Hey Goodbye - The O'Jays
Cease, and Hooray For Me - Bad Religion

The way I figure it, I've spent the last 35 years being a smart@ss, I may as well go out on the same note.

Answer 8

Dust In The Wind By Kansas

Answer 9

Dark Star by the Grateful Dead....the 23-minute version. During that time, I want to be cremated and then have my ashes put into pipes, mixed with some very good marijuana, and smoked by my friends and family. What a way to go!

Answer 10

First, "Across the Universe" by the Beatles, then I want a party with lots of Beatles, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Elvis Presley.