What to play after a funeral ?

[Silly Moustache]

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

It occurred to sing "Don't Let The Old Man In" after watching"Mule with Clint last night.

"Will the circle?"

"Magnolia Wind"

Any other ideas?

[Pine Cone]

https://youtu.be/1Dc05ia0KTc Who Will Sing For Me?


I'll Fly Away

[buddyhu]

“I Shall Be Released”.

“Hold Me In Your Heart for a While”.

“Angel Band”.

[Mandobart]

My favorite is "I'll Not Be A Stranger" originally by the Stanley Brothers

[BlueStarfish]

I’m presuming not a lot of time to learn new material so if it were me I’d pick something I already know well. Here are some ones that would make my list if I were in your shoes:

“Just A Closer Walk”
“Green Pastures”
“Wayfaring Stranger”
“Be Though My Vision”
And the already-mentioned “I’ll Fly Away”

If there are a few tunes your friend was known to particularly favor that you can do well, maybe those too, even if not funeral themed.

[Bob Womack]

From the movie Gods and Generals

Bob

[Bob from Brooklyn]

"I Remember Everything", John Prine's last song

[cittern]

"Please Don't Bury Me" another Prine.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Bob from Brooklyn

"I Remember Everything", John Prine's last song

Great suggestion, also Wayfaring stranger and I'll fly away.

I'll also look at "I'll not be a stranger (I found a version by Eli and Cahalen Thanks folks.
Keep 'em coming - I have no idea how long I'll be asked o play for.

[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.

[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!

[davidd]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJUhlRoBL8M

[Jack the Pearl]

What? Am I the only one that thought of "Dust In The Wind"?

There's sheets available for it that are guitar only. So it can be done without the violin and on a single guitar if need be. The original hit recording by Kansas, I recently learned, had multiple guitars layered in it. But given the occasion, one might do.

I played this at my brother's funeral with no vocal. He was older but many of his friends were younger. They asked me where I found such a pretty yet appropriate song.

[A Scot in Otley]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

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

It occurred to sing "Don't Let The Old Man In" after watching"Mule with Clint last night.

"Will the circle?"

"Magnolia Wind"

Any other ideas?

This is an old one .. Weeping Pilgrim - if you want those present to join in - simple with repeated refrain for joining in, and the verses only change with the first line (father/mother/brother/sister). Easy to learn and designed for community singing.

[ljguitar]

Hi Andy…
Totally depends on the person and the type of 'service'.

I've played for formal funerals (2-3 songs during key points of the service) and casual ones.

Sang at one two weeks ago where the person who had died picked a song and the wife picked another and they were both congregational songs to be sung by all the attendees.