Worst Funeral song ever

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A close family friend passed away recently who was the director of a youth theatre company in the area. He was a singer and actor and a lover of Broadway and musicals all his life. He wanted “Give My Regards to Broadway” played as the casket left the church, but the priest wouldn’t allow it. (He wasn’t even Catholic, though his parents are.) This is a very liberal parish, but I guess that was a stretch even for them. He did allow “Seasons of Love” from Rent, though.
 
I heard of a local funeral where the they sang I Did it My Way at the request of the decedent.
 
Eagle’s Wings was requested by my sister (knew she was dying). Her teenaged daughter sang it so beautifully that I know my sister was smiling. At my Mother-in-law’s we had Ave Maria, because she loved it so much. She was truly devoted to Our Blessed Mother that we just thought it apporpiate.
 
I attended the funeral of a friend’s mother a few months ago and one of her requested songs was the theme from “Ghost”…as in the pottery wheel song. Of course, all I could see was Patrick and Demi making out. EWW!!
It goes something like this…OHHH my love…my darling…I’ve hungered for your touch…
 
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TAS2000:
I’d say 80% of the funeral liturgies around here use the following song list:

Eagles Wings
Amazing Grace
Be Not Afraid
How Great thou Art

With some degree of change in the order. This is at the request of the families, because my DH (the music director) would NOT play these songs if he had the choice.
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You are so right…I am part of our music ministry, as well as a Bereavement Minister, and I can tell you from experience that these are the most often requested songs for funerals.
 
my mom always said she wanted a dixieland band playing “When the Saints go Marching In” but she didn’t get it. We couldn’t find a dixieland band and thought it would sound dumb with the organ.
 
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JKirkLVNV:
I alway kind of jokingly say I want “Spirit in the Sky” played when they’re carrying my casket out of the church. I don’t think that will fly with the priest, though. I think it would be a hoot, but then that’s hardly the point of a funeral.
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Play RealAudio “Spirit In The Sky” Sound Clip.

spiritinthesky.com/

👍
 
You Are the Wind Beneath My Wings from the movie Beaches. My aunt had it played during my uncle’s funeral, and my uncle was someone dear to me. It is a good example why not to use pop music to mark a special occasion. I couldn’t walk into a supermarket for years without fear it would be played over the Muzak system. One of us- Auntie, the cousins, or me- would end up blubbering and have to leave.
 
I actually played “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac at my first husband’s funeral because it was “our” song.
I heard later that one of the men at the funeral complained about it right in the middle of the song.
I wouldn’t comment on anyone’s choice of music for a funeral. It really is for those who were the closest to the person & also any song that may have been the favorite for them.
 
I want my wake to be a party. No sad songs!! Don’t feel bad for me, it’s the living I pity. As for a funeral, I think I would just want some sort of instumental music. The worst is when someone messes up a song and that’s what people remember.
 
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Lots2Learn:
I attended the funeral of a friend’s mother a few months ago and one of her requested songs was the theme from “Ghost”…as in the pottery wheel song. Of course, all I could see was Patrick and Demi making out. EWW!!
It goes something like this…OHHH my love…my darling…I’ve hungered for your touch…
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Wow, I’m really glad I’ve never seen Ghost because the Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody is one of my favourite love songs and I’d hate for that to be spoiled.

My mother, who hopefully has many years left with us, wants to be piped out of the church with Amazing Grace. Seems to be a pretty common desire. I’ve always thought the Who’s I’m Free would be good at a funeral.
 
“Table of Plenty” would be a good choice for a rich person’s heirs to choose 😃
 
OutinChgoburbs said:
You Are the Wind Beneath My Wings from the movie Beaches. My aunt had it played during my uncle’s funeral, and my uncle was someone dear to me. It is a good example why not to use pop music to mark a special occasion. I couldn’t walk into a supermarket for years without fear it would be played over the Muzak system. One of us- Auntie, the cousins, or me- would end up blubbering and have to leave.
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Unfortunately, many of us have heard Elmer Fudd sing that to Bugs Bunny. 😦
 
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mercygate:
Eagle’s Wings
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I’ve already made our parish music director promise me that he wouldn’t let this be played at my funeral if he’s still around to have a say. He agreed wholeheartedly because he’s sick of playing it for all the other funerals.
 
CatholicSam said:
“Table of Plenty” would be a good choice for a rich person’s heirs to choose 😃
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I’ve always thought “Table of Plenty” sounded like something from a merry-go-round. Pile on the stuff, spin it, and everyone grab something they like when it circles around.

I actually like “On Eagles Wings”, “Amazing Grace”, and “Be Not Afraid” at funerals. However they are not the best songs for congregations to sing because every verse has different rythmns. Another ‘modern’ song which is popular at funerals is “Shepherd Me, O God”.
 
I actually played what I consider to be the worst funeral song ever, at a funeral, at the request of the deceased.

Back in my previous life as a SoBap music minister, I would occasionally play one of the barn-burning, showoffy Southern Gospel piano arrangements as an offertory. The barn-burning-est of those songs was a number called “Goodbye, World, Goodbye.” I played it, and a guy in the congregation who was dying of cancer heard it and loved it. He specifically requested that I play that song at his funeral. I did, but I really felt wierd about it.

DaveBj
 
At a recent funeral, the family played a country song on a CD player about (help me with the singer’s name) “Oh, Lord it’s hard to be humble, when you get better looking each day” Remember that tune? I was appalled.

Interesting to note, the church was overflowing and only 4 people received Communion. The priest allowed a family member of the deceased, who is a Protestant pastor, to read the gospel and deliver the homily, the contents of which gave the Mass of Christian Burial the appearance of a wake.
 
For those who are wondering why some disdain On Eagles Wings and the others listed, I have a theory. Around Chicagoland we have those who, when asked if they had seen something on television, would reply, (in a snooty voice), “No, I only watch Channel 11 (PBS in Chicago}.”

IMHO, the equivalent here for many is (in a snooty voice), “Oh no, there simply is no Catholic hymnody after 1960…”

So, like what you like and Be Not Afraid… 😉

John
 
On Eagles Wings is definately the most requested song for funerals at our parish. The funeral choir actually calls it “yoohoo”. :yup:
 
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