Please help me choose music for a funeral.

[WombatWoman]

I am choosing music for a family member's memorial service. So far I have found two songs that really seem right, "Bright Eyes," written by Stephen Gately, sung by Art Garfunkel, and "Sand and Water," written and sung by Beth Nielsen Chapman. I would greatly appreciate suggestions for other songs that would be appropriate for a memorial service (preferably secular songs, since most members of the family are non-religious, and a funeral is not the best place for "witnessing.")

Here is a (legal) sound clip of Sand and Water.

SAND AND WATER
by Beth Nielsen Chapman

All alone I didn't like the feeling
All alone I sat and cried
All alone I had to find some meaning
In the center of the pain I felt inside

All alone I came into this world
All alone I will someday die
Solid stone is just sand and water, baby
Sand and water, and a million years gone by

I will see you in the light of a thousand suns
I will hear you in the sound of the waves
I will know you when I come, as we all will come
Through the doors beyond the grave

All alone I heal this heart of sorrow
I can only live this day
Flesh and bone my life's bursting toward tomorrow
And the love you send my heart still finds its way

All alone I came into this world
All alone I will someday die
Solid stone is just sand and water, baby
Sand and water and a million years gone by

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I could not find a legal audio clip of "Bright Eyes." The song was featured in the animated movie "Watership Down."

BRIGHT EYES
by Stephen Gately

Is it a kind of a dream
Floating out on the tide
Following the river of death downstream
Oh, is it a dream?
There's a fog along the horizon
A strange glow in the sky
And nobody seems to know where it goes
And what does it mean?
Oh, is it a dream?

Bright eyes, burning like fire
Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly,
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes

Is it a kind of a shadow
Reaching into the night
Wandering over the hills unseen
Oh, is it a dream?
There's a high wind in the trees
A cold sound in the air
And nobody ever knows where you go
And where do you start?
Oh, into the dark

 

[Czar]

One that might do, i love it at least

Alan Parsons Project - Old and Wise

As far as my eyes can see
There are Shadows approaching me
And to those I left behind
I wanted you to Know
You've always shared my deepest thoughts
You follow where I go
And oh when I'm old and wise
Bitter words mean little to me
Autumn Winds will blow right through me
And someday in the mist of time
When they asked me if I knew you
I'd smile and say you were a friend of mine
And the sadness would be Lifted from my eyes
Oh when I'm old and wise

As far as my Eyes can see
There are shadows surrounding me
And to those I leave behind
I want you all to know
You've always Shared my darkest hours
I'll miss you when I go

And oh, when I'm old and wise
Heavy words that tossed and blew me
Like Autumn winds that will blow right through me
And someday in the mist of time
When they ask you if you knew me
Remember that You were a frined of mine
As the final curtain falls before my eyes
Oh when I'm Old and wise

As far as my eyes can see

 

[datalink7]

Jackon Browne - For a Dancer

Keep a fire burning in your eye
Pay attention to the open sky
You never know what will be coming down
I don't remember losing track of you
You were always dancing in and out of view
I must have thought you'd always be around
Always keeping things real by playing the clown
Now you're nowhere to be found

I don't know what happens when people die
Can't seem to grasp it as hard as I try
It's like a song I can hear playing right in my ear
That I can't sing
I can't help listening
And I can't help feeling stupid standing 'round
Crying as they ease you down
'Cause I know that you'd rather we were dancing
Dancing our sorrow away
(Right on dancing)
No matter what fate chooses to play
(There's nothing you can do about it anyway)

Just do the steps that you've been shown
By everyone you've ever known
Until the dance becomes your very own
No matter how close to yours
Another's steps have grown
In the end there is one dance you'll do alone

Keep a fire for the human race
Let your prayers go drifting into space
You never know what will be coming down
Perhaps a better world is drawing near
And just as easily it could all disappear
Along with whatever meaning you might have found
Don't let the uncertainty turn you around
(The world keeps turning around and around)
Go on and make a joyful sound

Into a dancer you have grown
From a seed somebody else has thrown
Go on ahead and throw some seeds of your own
And somewhere between the time you arrive
And the time you go
May lie a reason you were alive
But you'll never know

He is one of my favorite artists, and this is a beautiful and sad song.

 

[N8Magic]

Bridge Over Troubled Water -- Simon and Garfunkel

When you´re weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all...all...
I´m on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can´t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you´re down and out
When you´re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you (ooh)
I´ll take your part, oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

(brief instrumental interlude)

Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend
I´m sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind


I've heard this at a funeral a couple of times, and it always gets me misty-eyed. Also, I consider it to be one of the most inspiring songs (inspiring may not be the right word here) that i've ever heard.

 

[StageLeft]

Santana - samba pa ti

 

[Harvey]

Possibles:

"The Long And Winding Road" -- Beatles

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" -- Art Garfunkle

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Bridge Over Troubled Water too cliche, IMO. How bout a good Cat Stevens song--I know there's a few that would work? I'll do some poking around...

And condolences...

 

[BillGates]

Metallica - Master of Puppets

 

[Electric Amish]

One of my favorites...

DANTE'S PRAYER (7.11)
Music and Lyrics Loreena McKennitt

When the dark wood fell before me
And all the paths were overgrown
When the priests of pride say there is no other way
I tilled the sorrows of stone

I did not believe because I could not see
Though you came to me in the night
When the dawn seemed forever lost
You showed me your love in the light of the stars

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me

Then the mountain rose before me
By the deep well of desire
From the fountain of forgiveness
Beyond the ice and fire

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me

Though we share this humble path, alone
How fragile is the heart
Oh give these clay feet wings to fly
To touch the face of the stars

Breathe life into this feeble heart
Lift this mortal veil of fear
Take these crumbled hopes, etched with tears
We'll rise above these earthly cares

Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
Please remember me

amish

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Eagles - Hotel California

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway;
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself,
'This could be Heaven or this could be Hell'
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor,
I thought I heard them say...
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year, you can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain,
'Please bring me my wine'
He said,'We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine'
And still those voices are calling from far away,
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say...
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise, bring your alibis
Mirrors on the ceiling,
The pink champagne on ice
And she said 'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device'
And in the master's chambers,
They gathered for the feast
The stab it with their steely knives,
But they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
'Relax,'said the night man,
We are programmed to receive.
You can checkout any time you like,
but you can never leave!

 

[Haircut]

Originally posted by: GoodRevrnd
Bridge Over Troubled Water too cliche, IMO. How bout a good Cat Stevens song--I know there's a few that would work? I'll do some poking around...

And condolences...

My Grandpa had Cat Stevens' Father and Son at his funeral, still brings a tear to my eye when I read the lyrics now.

It's not time to make a change
Just relax, take it easy
You're still young that's your fault
there's so much you have to know
find a girl settle down
If you want you can marry
Look at me, I am old
but I'm happy

I was once like you are now
And I know that it's not easy
to be calm when you've found
something's going on
But take your time, think a lot
think of everything you've got
For you will still be here tomorrow
but your dreams may not

How can I try to explain
When I do he turns away again
It's always been the same
Same old story
From the moment I can talk
I was ordered to listen
Now there's a way and I know
That I have to go away
I know I have to go...

It's not time to make a change
Just sit down and take it slowly
You're still young that's your fault
There's so much you have to go through
Find a girl settle down
If you want you can marry
Look at me, I am old but I'm happy

All the times that I've cried
keeping all the things I knew inside
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it
If they were right I'd agree
But it's them they know not me
Now there's a way and I know
That I have to go away
I know I have to go...

 

[XZeroII]

Garth Brooks, The Dance. Best song you can play at a time like that.

 

[morkinva]

Elton John - Funeral for a Friend

You can rock out at your next funeral

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: XZeroII
Garth Brooks, The Dance. Best song you can play at a time like that.

I think The River would be more appropriate.

Viper GTS

 

[ThePresence]

Dont know if this one is appropriate for a funeral, but I think the words are...

Phil Collins - You'll Be In My Heart

Come stop your crying it will be alright
just take my hand, hold it tight
I will protect you from all around you
I will be here, dont you cry
For one so small you seem so strong
My arms will hold you, keep you saffe and warm
This bond between us, can't be broken
I will be here, don't you cry

Chorus
Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes you'll be in my heart
From this day on, now and forever more

You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart always..

Why can't they understand the way we feel?
They just don't trust, what they cant explain
I know we're different but, deep inside us
We're not that different at all

Chorus

Don't listen to them, what do they know?
We need each other to have to hold
They'll see in time...i know...
When destiny calls you you must be strong (you gotta be strong)
I might not be with you, but you got to hold on
They'll see in time..i know...
We'll show them together cuz

Chorus

You'll be in my heart (you'll be here in my heart)
no matter what they say (i'll be with you)
you'll be here in my heart (i'll be there) always..
always...i'll be with you
i'll be there for you always, always and always
just look over your shoulder
just look over your shoulder
just look over your shoulder
i'll be there always....

And this one...

I Will Remember You, by Sarah McLachlan

I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you bye
Weep not for the memories

Remember the good times that we had?
I let them slip away from us when things got bad.
How clearly I first saw you smilin' in the sun
Wanna feel your warmth upon me, I wanna be the one

I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

I'm so tired but I can't sleep
Standin' on the edge of something much too deep
It's funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
We are screaming inside, but we can't be heard

But I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Dont' let you life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

I'm so afraid to love you, but more afraid to lose
Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose
Once there was a darkness, deep and endless night
You gave me everything you had, oh you gave me light

And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let you life passy you by
Weep not for the memories


And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let you life passy you by
Weep not for the memories
Weep not for the memories

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Tears in Heaven- Eric Clapton
Time After Time- Eva Cassidy

 

[Hammer]

I also have to go with Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton.

Condolences WW.

 

[Nemesis77]

Enya: Evening Falls

When the evening falls and the daylight is fading,
from within me calls - could it be I am sleeping?
For a moment I stray, then it holds me completely.
close to home - I cannot say.
close to home feeling so far away.

As I walk there before me a shadow
from another world, where no other can follow.
carry me to my own, to where I can cross over...
close to home - I cannot say.
close to home feeling so far away.

Forever searching; never right, I am lost
in oceans of night. Forever
hoping I can find memories.
those memories I left behind.

Even though I leave will I go on believing
that this time is real - am I lost in this feeling?
like a child passing through, never knowing the reason.
I am home - I know the way.
I am home - feeling oh, so far away.

Enya: On your Shore

Strange how
my heart beats
To find myself upon your shore.
Strange how
I still feel
My loss of comfort gone before.

Cool waves wash over
and drift away with dreams of youth
so time is stolen
I cannot hold you long enough.

And so
this is where I should be now
Days and nights falling by

Days and nights falling by me.
I know
of a dream I should be holding
days and nights falling by
Days and nights falling by me.

Soft blue horizons
reach far into my childhood days
as you are rising
to bring me my forgotten ways

Strange how I falter
to find I'm standing in deep water
Strange how
my heart beats
to find I'm standing on your shore

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[DaveSimmons]

My condolences, and a suggestion:

Chris Whitley - "Dirt Floor" (from the acoustic blues-rock CD of the same name)

There's a dirt floor underneath here
to receive us when changes fail
may this shovel loose your troubles
let them fall away
...

I'd also recommend Chris Cornell's "Say Goodbye" from Euphoria Morning, but it's a bit intense for anything less than a wake.

 

[WombatWoman]

Many thanks to those of you who have made suggestions. It is not easy to select music for this purpose, and you have helped to take some of the burden from me. You have my gratitude.