What to play after a funeral ?

San Francisco weighing in here...

"Ripple" by the Grateful Dead, if you think the crowd would be amenable. It's really a pretty song. Contemplative without being sad.

If it's a celebration of life type memorial service, and again, depending on the audience and the departed, the song "I Just Want to Celebrate Another Day" by Rare Earth has an uplifting message but would require some arranging to sound good on a solo acoustic guitar.

[Stonehauler]

"I've been asked to play a set at the gathering after the funeral of one of my club members."

Honestly, make it personal if you can, but it also depends on the person.
If you can find a list of their favorite songs somewhere, see what can be used.

For instance, I love the song "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M.,but my GOSH, I would absolutely roll over in my grave if someone played that. Instead, I would love to have them play "End of the Line" by the Traveling Wilburys.

Is this going to be a set where you are mourning the person who passed, or celebrating their life?
I would hope that my funeral is a PARTY, not a cry fest.
The 5 song set I would want played for me.
Someone to do a Filk of "Ding dong the witch is dead", with witch replaced with a not so nice name for a child born out of wedlock or some other sort of thing
If no one can come up with a filk, then It's the End of the World and (replace I feel with He Feels) fine
Leader of the band - Dan Fogelburg - Okay, one sappy one
(if I could squeeze in a 6th) Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox When I Die - Joe Diffie
Country Roads - John Denver - maybe 2
Take it Easy - Eagles
End of the Line - Traveling Wilburys

That said, I would also want people to go from the funeral to an amusement part, or a Renaissance Faire, a concert, or some other place that I enjoyed in life.

You remember Stonehauler's funeral? Yeah, it was a blast. I rode so many coasters that day and ate way too much carnival food! or...Yeah, his wife had a band come and we danced for a few hours, then went back to his wife's place and re-watched Lord of the Rings Extended Edition, drank his homebrew and played a bunch of songs.

So I would not want people playing dirges or sappy songs for me, but happy ones, celebrating my life.

TL;DR - So, think about what your friend would have wanted. Happy, sad, sappy, bright, a mix, Country, Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, Alternative, classics, old, new, whatever. Mourn, celebrate, and otherwise give people something that is uniquely your friend.

[Dave Hicks]

In a similar situation we did Flowers of the Forest, Both Sides Now, and some Irish tunes that sound good at a slow-moderate tempo (Morgan Magan, Banish Misfortune) - all instrumental.

D.H.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Bob from Brooklyn

Truthfully I wouldn't make them all tearjerkers. Tell a funny story about your friend and maybe play a couple of his old favorites.

Thanks Bob, you make a good point.

The chap was a nice guy but not a close friend. I guess he was late '50s, early '60s, and he always played with his wife.

I can't relate any stories about him as I didn't know him that well, but your point is well made - some uplifting or amusing songs might be best.

Thanks for your input.

[Tahitijack]

A few that have been played at funerals for my friends:

Fire and Rain ..James Taylor
In My Life..Beatles
Audios..Jimmy Webb/Linda Ronstadt
Only Good Times ..Keola Beamer

[marciero]

I am a pilgrim

[Mandobart]

Originally Posted by marciero

I am a pilgrim

Alternately, Steve Earle's "Pilgrim"

[jontewright]

My late and truly amazing Dad was a massive Bob Dylan fan.
I chose 'Forever Young' and 'Bob Dylan's Dream' to play at his funeral.

[Italuke]

Macca's "Picasso's Last Words."

[Mr. Paul]

Originally Posted by janinep7

San Francisco weighing in here...

"Ripple" by the Grateful Dead, if you think the crowd would be amenable. It's really a pretty song. Contemplative without being sad.
...

A fine choice.

[mball]

Eva Cassidy's " I Know You by Heart" and Bruce Cockburn's "Festival of Friends" are both beautiful.

[nbs2005]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

I had to do that for my friend Ron. A group of us played "Wagon Wheel" at his funeral because, as the local school's peripatetic guitar tutor, he'd taught it to every kid in the area! The funeral home didn't quite know what to make of it!

The night before he died a whole bunch of us went up to his house and sat around his bed - he was unconscious with all the drugs - we took down his guitars from the wall, opened up his prize whiskey bottles and murdered all his favourite songs!!! We carried on in the same vein at his wake.

Sometimes the most respectful thing that you can do for someone is to have the party that they would have loved. I still play some of Ron's favourite songs whenever we gather, but at least having practiced them I can do them justice now!

I like this a lot. I love the thought of my friends doing horrible versions of songs I enjoyed on my guitars all wearing big buckles and clothes with lots of jingly bit's. Really need to do that before I leave (minus the buckle rash and scratches)

[Talk2Me]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Thanks Bob, you make a good point.

The chap was a nice guy but not a close friend. I guess he was late '50s, early '60s, and he always played with his wife.

I can't relate any stories about him as I didn't know him that well, but your point is well made - some uplifting or amusing songs might be best.

Thanks for your input.

100%. I'm thinking "New Orleans Jazz Funeral Style". Lots of upbeat and happy music to send off the departed with class and to celebrate a life well lived!

[elninobaby]

I’ve sung at two funerals (for each of my parents). For my mom, I sang “How Can I Keep From Singing” and for my dad, “We’ll Meet Again.” People thought they were nice tributes. I think they’re both good songs for the purpose.

[The Bard Rocks]

At my mother's funeral, I played "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", pretty, meaningful, and slow, like in church. Then 2/3 of the way through, I jumped to "hot", like at a New Orleans funeral - you play mournfully on the way to the graveyard and whoop it up on the way back, the idea being you mourn someone, but life goes on. You should have seen the audience reaction when I went to hot. They'll remember that funeral. My mother would have approved, too.