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Two Together: Save £100!
Save £100 when you purchase two funeral plans together. Call us for more details.
Written by Adam McIlroy.
11 minute read
The 1960s gave the world some of the best funeral songs that there are, and many of its leading lights, from the Beatles, to Jimmy Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, the Rolling Stones, and Frank Sinatra, still avidly listened to today. For many people, it’s important to have music from this period — especially if it was the period where they came of age — playing at their funeral. To give some pointers and guidance, we wanted to write this article on good 1960s funeral songs to choose. We hope, whether you are thinking about 1960s funeral songs for your own funeral, or whether you are planning the funeral of someone who has died very recently, that this article helps.
We’d also just like to say that, whatever has brought you to us here, we recognise that you could be facing a difficult time. Aura is here to help: we are the top-rated provider of ‘Cremation Services’ on Trustpilot, with a score of 4.9/5 stars from the families we’ve supported.
Key Takeaways
The 1960s gave us some of the best and most enduring music, and its influence can still be heard clearly in new music today.
Music is one of the most powerful and meaningful ways to bring us back into a time period that was dear to the person who has died. Some of the best funeral songs are 1960s funeral songs, and they can be quite versatile in their tone. There are moving hits that will provoke deep emotions in the listener, like Procul Harum’s ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’, and irreverent side-swipes, like Frank Sinatra’s ‘That’s Life’, which will raise a wry smile.
Music from the 1960s resonates with older generations, but also younger generations too. That gives the lyrics and melodies a timelessness and a relatability that few other eras can match.
Picking the right music for a funeral can turn into a moment in time that none of the attendees will ever forget, and which truly does justice to the life lived by the person who has died. The trick, as with any of the other elements of a funeral, such as a eulogy, or with selecting non-religious funeral poems, is to opt for a 1960s funeral song which truly recalls the personality and character of the person who has died.
As noted, there’s a wide range of tones, styles, and genres of music from the 1960s, from swing, to rock, to jazz, and motown. Music is a big part of our own identities and how we choose to present ourselves publicly — whom we listen to is a big part of our own personalities — which means that we could worry about selecting the wrong song, and being on the wrong side of funeral etiquette. If you are unsure of what the person would have wanted (if you are planning a funeral for someone else), perhaps because you were never able to help them discuss their end-of-life wishes, then just focus on themes of love, remembrance, and spiritual comfort.
There are plenty of popular 1960s funeral songs which you can choose from, either for your own funeral as part of end-of-life planning, or for the funeral of a loved one who has recently died. These range from more classic and traditional choices; to uplifting and inspirational songs; and religious and spiritual 1960s funeral songs.
There are a range of 1960s songs that are very popular, and which are often used. Frank Sinatra’s songs can often be used at the funerals of men. They may feel that using a song like ‘That’s Life’, or ‘My Way’, help them to make a statement about their worldview and the sardonic take they have had on life’s tribulations. It can also bring comfort to the listener, as they recall this aspect of their loved one’s personality.
Other songs that could be used might strike a more reflective and emotive tone, are Elvis Presley’s ‘I’ll Remember You’ (ideal for remembering a loved one), and Roberta Flack’s version of ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’, which is especially powerful in remembering a romantic partner.
There are various songs from the 1960s which can be used to strike a hopeful and inspirational tone. One which became very popular in a football context (especially for fans of Liverpool and Celtic) is ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ by Jerry and the Pacemakers. The encouraging and unifying message of this song, which inspires feelings of togetherness and which banishes feelings of loneliness is a brilliant message to bring into the context of a funeral.
Another song which avoids tones of sorrow and remorse, instead opting for a proud and defiant ethos, is ‘The Impossible Dream’ (also known as ‘The Quest’), by Andy Williams. Its stirring development, powerful vocals, and inspiring lyrics, make it a great choice for families looking to celebrate the resilience of someone they’ve lost.
Whilst there has been a decline of religion in the UK in recent decades, those who grew up in the 1960s may have been raised to be religious. Naturally, the culture of the 1960s, along with its music, introduced a lot of liberalism into our daily lives. For that reason, some people look to the pop music of the 1960s that refers to God or to religious matters as a way of paying homage to their own faith, but without necessarily opting for a formal, traditional funeral with popular funeral hymns. Good options here could be ‘Spirit in the Sky’ by Norman Greenbaum, which has an upbeat, and even groovy, tone whilst making various general religious references.
Another artist who often sang overtly Christian and gospel songs during the 60s (and other decades) was Johnny Cash. He has many songs that can be adapted for the purpose of a funeral, but a good one that is often preferred is ‘If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven’.
These songs (and many more besides) often provide a sense of peace to the listener, whilst helping those organising the funeral to make sure that their religious and cultural attitudes are recognised.
As noted, the best way to make the music as impactful as possible is to personalise it in some way.
Selecting songs that resonate with the listeners on a personal level can elevate the emotion of a funeral and make it more special. For instance, it could be that the person who has died was a keen musician themselves, and they had a particular song that they loved to sing, or play on the piano or guitar. Playing a song like this at a funeral will connect on a deeper level with those who are listening who are aware of that personal context.
As well as the emotion of the music itself, they will also recall all the times they got to hear their loved one play it themselves before they die. Naturally, this will make the emotion of the moment more potent. If you are unsure of which music would be the most appropriate or impactful, don’t be shy about asking friends and family who knew your loved one in different ways to the way in which you knew them, as they may be able to give you pointers and tips.
You may find that you have to make a choice between live and recorded music. This might relate to selecting a live or a recorded version of one of the funeral songs already mentioned (there are plenty of good ‘live’ versions of those songs performed by those artists). Indeed, many people prefer the live version of a certain track, feeling that it is better than the recorded version.
There are a couple of considerations to make with this, however. Often (especially from artists who were around in the 1960s) the quality of recording of a live performance from the 1960s can be quite poor, given the technology that was available at the time. This means that, if playing it out across a sound system at a funeral, it might emphasise the poorer aspects of the recording and undermine the emotional benefit of the music. The other concern is that the vast majority of such recordings have not been made at funerals. This means the atmosphere in the recorded song (likely one charged with the buzz of a live performance) could jar significantly with the feeling in the room of the funeral.
The choice may also relate to whether or not to commission a live performance of certain music loved by the person who has died. Naturally, this will require you to check whether it’s possible to have live music at the venue; whether you have the budget if you intend to find third-party artists. If you intend to perform yourself by way of a tribute, naturally it could be incredibly meaningful. But, if, to put it bluntly, the quality of your performance is not satisfactory (whether through lack of ability or being emotionally overwhelmed), the performance could do more harm than good.
There are some key errors to avoid when choosing 1960s funeral songs, such as overlooking the meaning of lyrics, and not considering the family’s wishes.
It’s always important to remember that any funeral is likely to be a solemn occasion, with emotions running high, regardless of the personality of the person who has died, or their wish that the tone might be celebratory. For that reason, it’s important that, when choosing funeral music, whether or not from the 1960s, you are aware of the subtext of the lyrics. If you are unsure whether a song is appropriate based on its lyrical content, it might be a good idea to run it by someone else who can help you interpret their meaning.
Before queuing up a certain song to play, it is worth running your idea by the close family of the person who has died first. It might be that the song you want to play signifies something private (like a joke or a memory) between you personally and the person who has died, but which would be lost on the majority of the guests. Consider that there are many different beliefs on death and funerals in religion and culture which could be in attendance at a funeral.
Thank you for reading this article about 1960s funeral songs. We hope this article has provided you with some music ideas, and some tips about what to avoid.
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