What song would you like played at your funeral?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Aidan Gillen said elsewhere, not written here
Pyramid Song, by Radiohead, live.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 6 May 2017 source ↗

Others on this question

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Steph McGovern Broadcaster
For Good, from the bit in Wicked the Musical where the two witches go their separate ways. The lyrics are about people coming to your life for a reason, who might not stay very long, but there’s a reason they’ve played a part in your life. I well up thinking about it.
Recorded The Guardian, Honest playlist, The Guardian, 15 February 2026 source ↗
Gary Barlow British singer
The cancan. It’s celebratory and it would demonstrate the ridiculousness of this life.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 February 2017 source ↗
Harriet Walter English actress
I went to a funeral where they played Cheek To Cheek: Fred Astaire singing “Heaven. I’m in heaven… ” Everyone smiled. I’d like that.
Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 December 2017 source ↗
Bill Bailey Comedian and musician
Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads. When I first heard it at 15, it was different to all the punk I was listening to. When I was starting out in my career, it was all about: ‘How is this possible? How am I doing this?’ Now it’s: ‘Is this my life? How did I get here?’ The lyrics are all about returning full to nature. That’s how I imagine death to be. So that’s what I want at my funeral. And they’ll play Combine Harvester by the Wurzels as people are leaving the church.
Recorded The Guardian, Honest playlist, The Guardian, 19 February 2024 source ↗

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