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Funeral Celebrant - Master of Ceremonies
Writer - Speaker
Call me on 0400 267 330
JULIAN BAMFORD
Music and Songs...
Music and songs listed below have been chosen for services by families. Some I have heard played once, others quite often, all with the meaning they bring with each unique farewell.
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Popular
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Current and contemporary,
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Jazz and World Music,
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1930's 40, 50's...
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Bagpipes
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Instrumental
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Classical
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Religious / Spiritual
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Rock'n'roll
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and songs quirky and offbeat.
Listed mostly by date first published, some with link (others - copy, paste and go).
I hope you find ideas for the music and words for the service you're planning, and the goodbye you want to give.
A WORK IN PROGRESS ... Ongoing
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ADELE
When We Were Young - Adele
WARREN ZEVON
Keep Me in Your Heart
Excerpt from lyrics:
Shadows are falling and I'm running out of breath
Keep me in your heart for a while
If I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for a while
When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun
Keep me in your heart for a while
There's a train leaving nightly called, "When all is said and done"
Keep me in your heart for a while
Sometimes when you're doing simple things around the house
Maybe you'll think of me and smile
You know I'm tied to you like the buttons on your blouse
Keep me in your heart for a while
ROY ORBISON
In Dreams
Excerpt from lyrics:
In dreams I walk with you, in dreams I talk to you
In dreams you're mine, all of the time
We're together in dreams, in dreams
But just before the dawn, I awake and find you gone
I can't help it, I can't help it, if I cry
I remember that you said goodbye
ED SHEERAN
Perfect
I See Fire
GURRUMUL - Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Wiyathal
ARCHIE ROACH
River Song
Life is worth living
KATIE MELUA
The Walls of the World
I Cried For You
The Closest Thing to Crazy
Blowin In The Wind
Fields of Gold
Wonderful Life
KATIE MELUA & EVA CASSIDY
SHERYL CROW & STING
Always On Your Side
CAT STEVENS (YUSUF ISLAM)
How Can I Tell You I Love You
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Father and Son
Morning Has Broken
SARAH MCLACHLAN
Arms of the Angel
LINDA RONSTADT
Goodbye My Friend
ENYA
If I Could Be Where You Are
The Humming
LEONARD COHEN
Dance Me To The End Of Love
Bird On A Wire
Hallelujah
K.D. LANG
Hallelujah
CHRIS ISAAK
Can't Help Falling In Love
VAN MORRISON
Someone Like You
Have I Told You Lately
INIGO PASCUAL
Remember Me
ANTHONY WARLOW
This Is The Moment(Live Version)
FRANCES
Don’t Worry About Me
Let it Out
SILVIE PALADINO
You Raise Me Up
BEYONCE
I Was here (Official United Nations World Humanitarian Day Performance)
"I want to leave my footprints on the sand of time
Know there was something that, something that I left behind
When I leave this world, I'll leave no regrets
Leave something to remember, so they won't forget"
CHRISTINA PERRY
A Thousand Years
JOSH GROBAN
You Raise Me Up (2010)
FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE
Dog Days are Over (2009)
SLIM DUSTY
Looking forward Looking Back (2009)
'I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate
A poet, a pawn, and a king
I've been up and down and over and out
But I know one thing
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race'
THE CLASH
London Calling (2009)
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS
Into My Arms (2003)
MARIAH CAREY & BOYZ II MEN
One Sweet Day (1995)
'And I know you're shining down on me from heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way
And I know eventually we'll be together
One sweet day'
WHITNEY HOUSTON
I will always love you (1992)
WENDY MATTHEWS
The Day You Went Away (1992)
ERIC CLAPTON
Tears from Heaven (1992)
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong here in heaven
BETTE MIDLER
From A Distance (1990)
From a distance there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
It's the voice of hope
It's the voice of peace
It's the voice of every man
Under the Boardwalk (1988)
Some say love, it is a river, that drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need
I say love, it is a flower, and you, its only seed
THE TRAVELLING WILBURYS
End of the Line (1988)
Well it's all right, even when push comes to shove
Well it's all right, if you got someone to love
Well it's all right, everything'll work out fine
Well it's all right, we're going to the end of the line
Handle With Care (1988)
MIKE & THE MECHANICS
The Living Years (1988)
SKYHOOKS
Balwyn Calling (1984)
RENEE GEYER
Say I Love You' (1981)
JOHN DENVER & PLACIDO DOMINGO
Perhaps Love
JOHN DENVER
Somedays are Diamonds
ABBA
Thank you for the Music (1980)
Knowing Me Knowing You (1976)
WALLACE & MATILDA
Clancy of the Overflow (1980)
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"For over 30 years Wallis and Matilda have moved the emotions of Australians of all ages with their inspired musical interpretations of the works of A.B. (Banjo) Paterson." https://www.wallisandmatilda.com.au/
CAVATINA from the Deer Hunter
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CARisMA Guitar Duo playing the 'Cavatina' by S. Myers from the Movie "The Deer Hunter" with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra on May 5, 2013!
KASHMIR : LED ZEPPELIN / YAMATO String Quartet Arr (6m 58s)
KASHMIR : LED ZEPPELIN
ALEXANDRA WHITTINGHAM
plays Capricho Arabe by Francisco Tárrega.
Filmed in the Church of St Pierre in Martignac, South-West France.
TRACY CHAPMAN (Live on Letterman 2015)
Stand By Me
DRAGON
Still In Love With You (1978) 3m:24s
BEE GEES
How Deep Is Your Love (1977)
To Love Somebody
LOUIS ARMSTRONG
Wonderful World (1976) 2m:30s
ELLA FITZGERALD & LOUIS ARMSTRONG
Dream a Little Dream of Me 3m:06s
BOB DYLAN
Black Diamond Bay (1976) 6m:24s
THE SEEKERS
Morning Town Ride (1968) 2m:34s
Isa Lei (1967) 2m:33s
Georgy Girl (1966) 2m:33s
Open Up Them Pearly Gates (1966) 2m:13s
PETULA CLARK
Colour My World (1967) (in Priscilla Queen of the Desert)
SARAH BRIGHTMAN
Ava Maria
Who Wants to Live Forever
ANDREA BOCELLI
Ave Maria
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ANDREA BOCELLI & SARAH BRIGHTMAN
Time to Say Goodbye
ANDREA BOCELLI & CELINE DION
The Prayer
CELINE DION
My Heart Will Go On, Theme from Titanic
MARK VINCENT
Time To Say Goodbye
The Power of Love
Huey Lewis
THE EAGLES
No More Walks in the Woods; No More Cloudy Days
I Shot the Sheriff
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BOBBY DARREN
If I was a Carpenter
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JO STAFFORD
Some Enchanted Evening
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GENE KELLY
Heather on the Hill (Brigadoon)
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JULIE COVINGTON
Don't cry for me Argentina
My Way; Young at Heart; I'll Be Seeing You,
Frank Sinatra
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My Way
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
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Moon River
MARK KNOPPFLER
I’m Going Home
Theme from a Summer Place
Percy Faith.
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Memory
Barbara Streisand
Que Sera Sera
Doris Day
Home, Sweet Home
Greta Bradman
A Summer Place
Percy Faith
No Regrets
Edith Piaf
Autumn Leaves
Richard Clayderman
Turn! Turn! Turn!
The Byrds
Hey Jude; Let It Be
The Beatles
She Loves You, Twist and Shout
The Beatles
Morning Has Broken
Cat Stevens
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon and Garfunkel
Heart of Gold
Neil Young
Feeling Alright; The Letter; With a Little Help From My Friends
Joe Cocker
Message to You Rudi
The Specials
The Right Thing
Simply Red
What Can I Say
Boz Skags
Adieu False Heart
Ann Savoy and Linda Ronstandt
Why Can’t I Cry; Kiss Me Goodbye
Petula Clark
John B Goode
Chuck Berry
Somewhere over the Rainbow
Israel Kammakawa’ole
Amazing Grace
Il Divo
King of the Road
Roger Miller
Beautiful Noise; Sweet Caroline; Red Wine
Neil Diamond
People; The Way We Were; Memories
Barbara Streisand
I Watch the Sunrise
Kathryn Crossweller
Through The Years
Kenny Rodgers
Waltz of the Flowers
Arthur Fiedler
Music Box Dancer
Frank Mills
And I Love You So
Perry Como
Serenade
Mario Lanza
Lili Marlene
Marlene Dietrich
Everybody Loves Somebody; Dream a Little Dream of Me
Dean Martin
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
John McCormack and Frank Patterson
You Are My Sunshine
Elizabeth Mitchell
Go Lassie Go
The Columba Minstrels
Talk to the Animals
I’m Coming Virginia; Oh Lady Be Good
Benny Goodman
Autumn In Tufnell Park
Wally Fawkes
Moonlight Serenade
Glenn Miller
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House of Fun, Madness.
Fathers Eyes - Eric Clapton
You’re Best Friend - by Queen.
Sweet Surrender - Wet Wet Wet
One Night in Heaven - M People
Never Going Back Again – Fleetwood Mac
Oblivion, Song of the Angels, by Richard Tonetti.
Run like Hell – Pink Floyd
Mio Babino Caro
Ave Maria by F. Schubert
Everything I Own – Bread
Prologue and Crunchy Granola Suite – Neil Diamond
Crazy - Patsy Kline
Solitary Man - Neil Diamond
Show Me The Way To Go Home - Ray Anthony
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life – Monty Python
Redemption - Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros
Watermark - Enya
The Day You Went Away - Wendy Matthews
Beyond the sea - Robbie Williams
It’s my life - Bon Jovi
Yellow - Cold Play
Moon River – Andy Williams
Dolannes Melodie - Richard Clayderman
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Richard Clayderman
Space Oddity (Major Tom) - David Bowie
Sunday Roast - Courtney Barnett
Dark Art - Jen Cloher
Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
Time after time - Cindy Lauper
Let it Be - Beatles
I’ll Never Find Another You - The Seekers
Fur Elise - Beethoven
A Mi Manera - Gipsy Kings
Never Never Never - Shirley Bassey
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CHANTS & BLESSINGS (BUDDHIST & OTHER)
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THICH NHAT HANH
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The Great Bell Chant (The End of Suffering) (English & Vietnamese)
SOGYAL RINPOCHE
Rest In Natural Great Peace
TINA TURNER
Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu (Peace Mantra)
BAGPIPES
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Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Amazing Grace
Willie Smith’s Farewell To Edinburgh Castle
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WORLD MUSIC - LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH
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The Warrior, Ipi 'N Tombia
featuring Margaret Singana
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Maori Farewell (Now is the Hour)
Marty Robbin
Tablas
Zakir Hussain and Friends
Walking the Human Road (Mandarin)
Teresa Teng
The Moon Represents My Heart (Mandarin)
Teresa Teng
Song of Sunset (Mandarin)
Anita Mui
Basho
Su and Jin(Korean)
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Put Vejini
Latvian Folk Song (Latvian)
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GUITAR
Capricho Arabe(2017) by Francisco Tárrega
Alexandra Whittingham
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Video Clip: 20 Year old British Guitarist Alexandra Whittingham.
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Filmed in the Church of St Pierre in Martignac, South-West France.
Cavatina 3mins:34secs
John Williams
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CLASSICAL
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Violin Concerto
Max Bruch
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Canon in D major (Johann Pachelbel) 6mins:17secs
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DEBUSSY
Clair De Lune
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BOCCHEREINI
Quintet in E Major, Op.11, No.5, G.275 (Arr. for Orchestra) - 3. Minuet
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
PUCCINI
Intermezzo, Turandot
CD: Essential Opera) (5min:5secs)
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Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni)
CD: Essential Opera. (3min:15secs)
Un bel di vedremo [One fine day] Don Giovani
Essential Opera (4mins:34secs)
Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra K299 (9min:50secs) Live
Croation Chamber Orchestra
BIZET
Va pensiero (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves).
Carmen Essential Opera. (4mins:34secs)
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STRAUSS
Blue Danube
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LISZT
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
Performed by Valentina Lisitsa (9m 46s)
Recorded live on May 22th, 2010 in Leiden, Holland
The Swan – Saint-Saens
Yo-Yo-Ma (cello), Kathryn Stott (piano)
J.S. BACH
Air on the G String
(Suite No.3, BWV 1068) original instruments) 2nd movement
Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G major, BWV 1048, I. [Allegro]
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Centre
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 in G major, BWV 1049
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Centre
Concerto No.5 in F-minor for harpsichord and strings(BWV 1056) -
LARGO, MARIA JOÃO PIRES, piano RICCARDO CHAILLY, conductor
The Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings and Continuo in D Minor
BWV 1043/Doppelkonzert für zwei Violinen d-Moll BWV 1043
Arabella Steinbacher & Akiko Suwanai
Ave Maria, J.S.Bach/Gounard
Yo-Yo-Ma (cello) Kathryn Stott (piano); Air on G String – J.S.Bach
Classical - chosen for following service & during refreshments time
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Brandenburg Concerto. No.3 in G Major BWV 1048 (J.S. Bach)
Freidburger Barockorchester (8mins)
Canon in D. Pachelbel.
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (Sir Neville Marriner) (4m29s)
Arioso. Cello and Organ BWV 156.
nne Martindale Williams (cello) and Diane Bish (organ) (5m29s)
Minuet in G Minor by G. F. Handel arr Wilhelm Kempff
Performed by Khatia Buniatishvili
Contemporary Instrumental
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Malena (2017) 4m:10s
2CELLOS, Ornette Coleman and Robin Smith
The Rose
Andre Rieu
Feelings (John Williams) 4mins:03secs
Gabriel's Oboe (The Mission - Ennio Morricone) 2min:14secs
Falls (The Mission - Ennio Morricone) 1min:55secs
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Religious
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Psalm 23, 'The Lord Is My Shepherd' by the Choir of Wells Cathedral
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Harry Secombe
Jerusalem(1959) 2m:12s
Peter Dawson
Jerusalem(1934)
This is an extract from a 1934 recording by Australian baritone Peter Dawson (1882-1961). Download the whole work at http://dawson.eavb.co.uk