Hoping for some good ideas. My dad's funeral is next week, and it will be a non religious ceremony which is all new to me, as I am so used to singing hymns. We have chosen some music to be played but I think it will help for us all to get up and sing something, as opposed to just sitting listening all the time. I have got Blowing in the wind and Somewhere over the rainbow so far, but they don't feel right. We are going out to Mack the Knife which I think would make him laugh!!!

I can't believe I'm going to say this but, here goes. What about that Celine Dion one "I'm everything I am because you loved me." It always strikes me as a really sad song to sing at a funeral. Makes me cry.

Mack the Knife would be BRILLIANT!

We had a non religious funeral for my Nan last week and we didn't sing anything. My Mum said she hated the "noise" that people make when they sing when they are crying!

We went into "Songbird" by Eva Cassidy ( that would be a nice one to sing).

We listened to Albatros by Fleetwood Mac as she went behind the curtains to be cremated.

And then Fields of Gold on the way out.

If you think Mac the Knife would make him laugh I would go for that.

So sorry to hear about your Dad, just found these online:
Imagine - John Lennon

Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler

My Way - Frank Sinatra

My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion

Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

The Power Of Love - Jennifer Rush

I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Eva Cassidy

Fields Of Gold - Eva Cassidy

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

He Aint HeavyHe's My Brother - The Hollies,

Yesterday - Matt Monro

Albatross - Fleetwood Mac

Smile - Nat King Cole

Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye - Ella Fitzgerald

Whatever Will Be, Will Be - Doris Day

Memories - Barbra Streisand

You're More Than A Number In My Little Red Book - The Drifters

Never Can Say Goodbye - Gloria Gaynor

Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin

I love the idea of singing Wonderful World!
At my friends funeral we lsitened to High by The Lighthouse Family, if I remember correctlythey were very fitting lyrics.

hi, i went to one not so long ago which was a 'humanist funeral'. it for an old lady who had specifically requested a none religious theme.

she was in a coffin that was made from woven wicker.(eco friendly) we all stood around it drinking champaigne (at her request!) then it was carried into the crematorium by her family. the service had no hymns sung it was just friends and family getting up to tell funny stories of funny incidents involving her. by the end of the 20 min service we were all crying with laughter. the rolling stones singing 'i cant get no satisfaction' (was her fave band back in the day) was finally played before we all left and went back to her house for a celebration of her life. It was by far the best funeral that i have ever been to and one that i can definitely recommend.

Smile by Nat King Cole is a nice one as Dorris said...

a great rousing number for everyone to sing (although it does have a religious tone to it) is a rocking/feel good number called 'happy days'.

mack the knife sounds good, was it a fave of his? any other suitable favourites?

my friend aged 22 died in a car crash a year ago and had a humanist ceremony. the song in the middle of the ceremony was 'hey ya' and his parents told us we all had to dance. was great remembering him dancing to the same song and really was to do with remembering him

sorry to hear of the death of your Dad.
my husband died in june, the songs he chose for his non religious service were songbird and somewhere over the rainbow, we had solisbury hill to walk in and out to.

At FILs funeral we sang Unforgettable by Nat King Cole, it was perfect for us.
Best wishes for this week, its such a hard thing to do.

Sorry to hear your news. How about Je ne regrette rien? Good luck x

I think what would be lovely is if people can be invited to talk about their feelings and memories of your dad. My MIL died a couple of years ago, and I still rather regret that only my SIL (not her daughter btw) spoke, and she and my MIL had lots of clashes, so it wasn't that warm. I really wanted to say how lovely she was, and how she made anyone who joined her family feel as if they were in the heart of her family. I am not sure about singing at a funeral.

I think celine dion.(i am every thing i am because you loved me)would be very fitting.IT would be a great tribute to your dad as he moulded you in to the person you are.We had this at a furneral of a very dearly loved person and although its a sad song it was telling her how much she helped me in my life and lots of others who her life touched.SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS xx