Funeral Poems, Readings, Music, Quotations & Thoughts

Eva Cassidy's 'Over the Rainbow'

Another beautiful version of 'Over the Rainbow' by the late Eva Cassidy. Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops...

Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry Now

There has been talk in the media about how schoolchildren used to be made to learn poetry by heart. I know I was one of them and it seems I am not the only one who finds that some of those poems have stayed with me all my life. Here for instance is a poem from A E Housman's 'A Shropshire Lad', much loved and much recited. LOVELIEST of trees, the [...] Read more

Ludovico Einaudi - I Giorni

This was chosen by a family member for a funeral recently. It was quite new to me and I have been playing it ever since.

Epitaphs

Strictly an epitaph is an inscription for a gravestone, but it can also mean any short verse or statement in memory of the dead. Some people write their own: If anyone at my funeral has a long face, I'll never speak to him again. — Stan Laurel I told you I was ill. — Spike Milligan