What's a good hymn for a funeral if you don't feel sorry about things?

[reynardo]

My grandmother's memorial service is on in a week, and my mum's just asked for any particular hymns we'd prefer. For those that came in late, my grandmother was a scheming, manuipulative woman whose passing is not particularly regretted by anyone in the family¹, and she definitely wasn't Christian (although if it was fashionable she'd attend church). The place for the service is a mid-level Anglican church, one of the oldest in Australia.

So we're looking for non-evangelical non-depressing hymns that people are likely to know, and that would be suitable for a memorial. The first two suggestions, "All Things Bright and Beautiful²" and "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead", have already been vetoed. Any ideas?


1. And that's the nice version

2. A friend had that and "To Be A Pilgrim" at his wedding, as he wanted hymns people would know. Alas, most Australians don't know "To Be A Pilgrim", and a couple of us had a lot of fun singing the Monty Python Version. Hmmmm

Comments

[silverblue.livejournal.com]

It would probably be considered evangelical, but 'Morning has broken' is known by lots of folks due to Cat Stevens.

[invader-kitty.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest this too.

[lirion.livejournal.com]

Snap :)
Was about to ask if this would be appropriate :)

[waitingman.livejournal.com]

How about the Hallelujah Chorus?

Or Sister Janet's version of the Lord's Prayer if you want to be non-controversial...

'Spirit In The Sky' ~ Norman Greenbaum??

[chaos-crafter.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest that one too.

[17catherines.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Tell out my soul / the greatness of the Lord, while delightfully singable might be a bit... celebratory, mightn't it?

The Lord's My Shepherd is a popular choice for funerals, as is Amazing Grace.

Almost any hymn by Charles Wesley will be pretty, singable, and probably recognisable to anyone who went to church regularly as a child.

Most of the big Easter ones are well-known, for obvious reasons, Thine Be the Glory / Risen Conquering son even has quite appropriate words (victory over death and so forth).

Our God our help in Ages past is another good funeral one.

And I'm going to stop now, because I could keep going all day. Without even consulting a hymn book. Which is fairly frightening, actually.

But let's face it - if the memorial service itself is meaningless, you might as well turn it into a really good songfest.

Much love

Catherine

PS - also, I have a copy of the old Australian Hymn Book at home. If you want to call and either discuss other possibilities, or refresh your memory about any lyrics, I'm in this evening and tomorrow evening after about 6.30

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

You're good. And I'm about to ring

[17catherines.livejournal.com]

I did think of one more - 'I know that my redeemer liveth' is very popular for funerals, though most people don't know the hymn tune - but there is a really lovely soprano solo of this in Handel's Messiah, which might be an option as a recording if you have any reflective time that wants background music.

Lovely chatting to you last night!

love

Catherine

[sandypawozbun.livejournal.com]

"Am I ever gonna see your face again (with added, usual rude bits)?"

Hmm... perhaps not.

"Fish heads#" by Dr Dememto?

Hmm... no.

Um...

Amazing Grace is as obvious choice.

I'd recommend also a movement or two from Mozart's Requiem, but then again, I'm a goth so you'd expect that.

#I'm currently teaching Rowan to sing this at the top of his lungs. His grandmother will have a fit. >:)

[emmasee100.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. The headmistress of the school I went to (mid Anglican) had "If I were a butterfly", since that was her favourite hymn for children.

I just did a quick search of my bookshelf, and cannot find my hymn-book.

If you are feeling nice, something in latin.

If you are not feeling nice, there was a hymn I really liked the tune of from school. It may be considered pointed.
"Brother, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you,
Pray that I might have the grace to,
let you be my servant too."

(Since I've not sung it in 17 years (oh, gods), the next couple of verses are gone.) It's really pretty, though.

[freyaw.livejournal.com]

Somewhere in my house, and I know not where, I have the lyrics to a song which is sung in latin, but, for example, one of the verses translates as:
"I had a great weekend, I got laid.
I got laid, and I had a good time"
and so forth.

[emmasee100.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's a very happy hymn, I like it :)

[freyaw.livejournal.com]

It's kind of meant to be a conversation between two gentlemen, as far as I can tell, and the other one is not so happy :P

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

AAAAAAGGGGHHHH NOT THE BUTTERFLY SONG!

It's going to be stuck all day. Gee. Thanks.

But that other one is a lovely one - tempting. Thanks

[quatranoctal.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, only two song titles are coming to mind. The aforementioned "Ding Dong", and "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".

[ultra-velvet.livejournal.com]

some of the above suggestions are pretty good (the cat stevens one or amazing grace go well at funerals I've been to, I seem to have wiped out all memories of hymns from my consciousness, except the ones in Sister Act :(

Joyful Joyful, O Happy Day, and Rock my Soul, none of which are really appropriate for a funeral.

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

I was going to suggest "Happy Days Are Here Again", but if they're vetoing "Ding Dong, the Witch Is Dead", that'll probably be shot down too.

[snarl817.livejournal.com]

You could always sing Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead at the wake....


One of these days, I'll have to post some of the stories about my paternal grandmother, who was equal parts psychotic and crazy.

[chaos-rose.livejournal.com]

I think that 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead' is more appropriate for the wake, along with slices of whiskey cake soused enough to make a breathalyzer twitch.

[moxie_man]

How about On Eagles' Wings? Background info on wikipedia. Started as a Catholic mass song, but has migrated over to several Protestant faiths. Used quite a bit at funerals around here. Beautiful song and easy to follow along with.

Here's one of the many pages you could find on with the lyrics to the hymn complete with annoying midi version of the hymn.