<p>We have had several very serious and pertinent threads about end-of-life issues. I have learned a lot and have made appointments with the right folks. People have discussed burial vs cremation and letting ones family know our wishes.</p>
<p>With apologies to the poster who first mentioned this (and my iPad won’t let me backtrack). And we are all dealing with our elders…</p>
<p>So, what songs will you be putting in your “gotta be there” instructions for your family?<br>
Amazing Grace?
Born to be Wild
Morning has Broken
Purple Haze?
We are one in the Spirit?</p>
<p>Amazing Grace
On Eagle’s Wings
A hymn my kids sang at camp as they were leaving chapel each evening -
“I will not be afraid;
I will not be afraid;
I will look upward,
And travel onward,
And not be afraid.”</p>
<p>I’m making a playlist.
Long Road will be on it, and probably Rise, Release is good too, it reminds me of my dad.
On the annv of a mutual friends death, Mike McCready played ( Pink Floyd) Wish You Were Here, and it was pretty heartbreaking. Stunningly beautiful, but I wasn’t really paying attention because I was trying to control myself.
So while some of the songs might be saddish, I want it to be uplifting.
Also, for instrumental beforehand Philip Glass Metamorphosis four…
:D</p>
<p>None. I can’t imagine any memorial service or what will be done with my ashes (know I want to be cremated and nothing buried). Under-emotional H and son. We’re not very musical either even though we do enjoy music.</p>
<p>I was joking with my D about this the other day: O, Death (from O Brother, Where Art Thou) and As We Stumble Along (from The Drowsy Chaperone). And Dies Irae, of course. </p>
<p>I don’t like pop songs at funerals. They seem oddly lightweight even when they are ostensibly appropriate. The two songs that I particularly remember not liking in that setting were “I Will Remember You” by Sarah McLachlan and “Spirit in the Sky” (can’t remember artist).</p>
<p>The saddest, most heart-wrenching use of a pop song at a funeral that I have ever experienced was the very pointed use of “Knocking on Heavens Door” by Bob Dylan at the funeral of my very dear friend who had committed suicide by gunshot. He was a huge Dylan fan but the song was just too, too much and too, too terrible:</p>
<p>Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can’t shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin’ down
I feel I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door.</p>
<p>Sorry you don’t like pop songs, nottelling, but there will definitely be some James Taylor at my funeral. It will make my family smile, because they know how much I like(d) him. :)</p>
<p>My family has a tradition wherein someone sings the Gospel song, “His Eye is on the Sparrow” at our funerals (and the congregation joins in on the chorus). </p>
<p>That, and “Amazing Grace” and a few more of my favorite hymns. It’s going to be a musical event. </p>
<p>We don’t always have funerals - we didn’t for my mom or dad. I hope to be old when I kick the bucket, and I hope that - like my parents - I saw friends and family enough while alive that they don’t feel obligated to have a dog & pony show for me. That said, I respect the decision to have a funeral. If my family chooses to have one for me someday, I would let them choose whatever music would be played … after all, I don’t think I will hear it! </p>
<p>I agree. Whatever kind of funeral, service or nothing my family chooses to have is fine with me. I will be gone. I would hope though, if the choice were mine, that they would not have some big fancy, expensive funeral and just have me cremated and remember me as I was with no fanfare. If they choose to gather and sing songs, I would like whatever gives them joy.</p>
<p>I’m planning for a wake rather than a funeral.
Our family mostly has cremation, and I’ve however I am also interested in a very " back to the land" burial.
<a href=“http://naturalburialground.org”>http://naturalburialground.org</a>
I love the thought of resting in the woods.</p>
<p>We have a small family, I’m the oldest of three siblings, no cousins.
So it may just be my Pearl Jam friends ( who are from 10 to 30 yrs younger), that put on a party.
After all, I know my kids won’t be interested in my memorablia or box sets.</p>
<p>I have been to several services ( for younger people ) that were held in a church, but also had media slideshows & music as a big part of the remembrance & celebration of their life.
Music is a big part of my life and I can’t imagine a service without it.
Some churches don’t have organists, but pianos or even just an acoustic guitarist.
( not that I belong to a church, but years ago a friend died suddenly in an accident and one of his friends played " Yesterday" on guitar, which was very moving, although his poor younger brother went into hysterics.)</p>
<p>My good friend who passed away 2 years ago - at her funeral, they played George Harrison’s “Give Me Love, Give Me Peace on Earth.” It was very fitting for her gentle, peaceful nature. </p>
<p>I definitely don’t want a funeral, but I think a family get together to remember the deceased can be very nice for the survivors. I’ve always thought I should have a Rolling Stones song, but most of the lyrics just don’t work. I like “You can’t always get what you want” but I think if I were choosing I’d say “Wild Horses”. </p>
<p>"Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless lady you know who I am
You know I can’t let you slide through my hands
Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, couldn’t drag me away
I watched you suffer a dull aching pain
Now you decided to show me the same
No sweeping exits or offstage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind
Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, couldn’t drag me away
I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom but I don’t have much time
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried
Let’s do some living after we die
Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we’ll ride them some day
Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we’ll ride them some day "</p>
</p>
) that were held in a church, but also had media slideshows & music as a big part of the remembrance & celebration of their life.