2018: The Co-operative Funeral Services list of Top Ten Funeral Songs now contains no Christian songs or hymns at all - for the first time. So let's take a look at the merits and demerits of the top ten, starting with 10th place : Always look on the bright side of life;
It makes you feel you can laugh.
It doesn't give you any grounds to laugh in death
You know, you came from nothing
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true
Life doesn't make any sense, and we all pretend it does. Comedy's job is to point out that it doesn't make sense, and that it doesn't make much difference anyway.
The song is originally sung to the Jesus figure (Brian) on the cross in Monty Python's Life of Brian film. So not only is it meaninglessly defiant rubbish, it's origin is blasphemous too.
Why it's good for a funeral:
It makes you feel you can laugh.
Why it's bad for a funeral:
It doesn't give you any grounds to laugh in death
Line that's most like a Christian song:
You know, you came from nothing
Line that's least like a Christian song:
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true
A Quote from (writer) Eric Idle:
Life doesn't make any sense, and we all pretend it does. Comedy's job is to point out that it doesn't make sense, and that it doesn't make much difference anyway.
Why I don't want this song at my funeral:
The song is originally sung to the Jesus figure (Brian) on the cross in Monty Python's Life of Brian film. So not only is it meaninglessly defiant rubbish, it's origin is blasphemous too.
A better Christian alternative:
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
[A brightness of a better sort.]
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