My Ultimate Send-Off Soundtrack

You should always be able to pick your own tunes

Let me say at the outset that I am neither battling a terminal illness nor in the midst of an existential crisis. I also don’t have a morbid fascination with my own mortality, though it has come up recently and is something we all should ponder from time to time. The reason I am doing the third article in a trifecta about my eventual death is simple: Jessie Waddell issued a musical challenge, and I try to never let one of those go unanswered.

Her challenge was prompted by a piece I wrote about my indecision over whether “Born to Run” or “Thunder Road” should be the song that plays me off life’s stage (I am still tabulating the votes from the contest, though “Born to Run” has the early edge). In addition to casting her vote for The Greatest Song Ever, Jessie published an article about what songs she wants played at her funeral and challenged us to do the same. Her excellent piece is below:

When issuing her challenge at the end, she mentioned that we already knew what I would choose. That’s only partially true, because clearly I would play more than just two songs (technically I suppose I won’t be playing them, but you know what I mean). I should also add that the songs below would be for the drunken wake, not the funeral itself; sneaking in a Springsteen song at the end of a traditional funeral Mass will be difficult enough.

Obviously, if the wake stretches the required three days there will be more songs than the ones I list below; I expect my kids to play Bruce’s entire catalogue. But to mix it up a bit, these 20(ish) are required as everyone tells that story about how I nearly burned the house down cooking bacon, that time I may or may not have ended up in a small-town Georgia jail, or how, when she was little, I used to tell my oldest child that her socks were on the wrong feet. Anyway…

While most are on the slower side so as to not scandalize any old folks (will I be an old folk when they finally play this?), there is the occasional banger.

“Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen (album version). Might as well start the thing off right.

“There is a Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths. Interestingly, according to the 2021 Spotify Wrapped I streamed this song more than any other this year. They don’t know I usually play Bruce on YouTube Music because I have no ads to deal with there.

“Rock Me on the Water” by Jackson Browne. When my life is over/I’m gonna stand before the Father/but the sisters of the sun/are gonna rock me on the water. Man, I hope so.

“Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” by Jimmy Buffett. If we couldn’t laugh/we would all go insane. Words I have lived by my whole life. And what’s a good wake without Jimmy?

“There Will Come a Day” by Faith Hill. Just in case Father Mike shows up to the wake, he’ll know with this one I was not a complete heathen.

“Vienna” by Billy Joel. Billy keeps saying to slow down; it doesn’t get any slower for me if they’re playing this playlist.

“Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone” by the Texas Tornados. There has to be a Texas song; pass the salsa and do a tequila shot, everybody.

“Reason to Believe” by Bruce Springsteen. Still at the end of every hard-earned day/people find some reason to believe. Ain’t it the truth, Bruce.

“Even the Losers” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Tom says even the losers get lucky sometimes…at this point that better be true.

“Let It Be” by The Beatles. I choose to believe this one was about the Virgin Mary and not Paul’s actual mother. If you don’t agree, that’s tough; it’s my wake.

“It Is Well” by Kristene DiMarco (live version). The first full-on Christian song on the list, and in the top 10 of all the ones here. I make no apologies.

“Down at the Twist and Shout” by Mary Chaplin Carpenter. Just a brief dance interlude, especially for any Cajun friends who made the trip.

“Perfect Blue Buildings” by Counting Crows. Before any Counting Crows fans chime in here, I do realize that Adam Duritz said this song is about depression and dealing with a pointless existence. It’s still a great song.

“Kind and Generous” by Natalie Merchant. This one is as much for my late sister as for me. By the time this plays, I will have finally joined her on the far shore.

“Sherry Darling” by Bruce Springsteen. The one I had my kids singing as toddlers, just in case they are a little melancholy by this point. Impossible to be sad while this song plays.

“Allison Road” by Gin Blossoms. I didn’t know I was lost at the time. The boys from Tempe had me pegged with this one. To be honest, I’m not sure I ever figured it out.

“Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Guns N’ Roses. So much better than the Dylan version. Sorry Bob.

“Gloria” by U2. Somehow, the first U2 song I ever heard 40 years ago remains my favorite today, and apparently into eternity.

“Drive” by Alan Jackson. Mainly for the last verse, and my daughters know why.

“Revelation Song” by Kari Jobe (live version). Clearly another one with religious overtones, but also with a voice so angelic it’s probably what we’ll hear on the other side.

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole. If you have never heard this one, what have you been doing with your life? It has over 1.1 billion views on YouTube. I’m putting here just in case:

“Bring It On Home To Me” by Sam Cooke. No wake is complete without Sam Cooke. No anything is complete without Sam Cooke.

“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen (live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1975 version). Duh.

If you’re in the neighborhood when I meet my demise, be sure to stop by and have a beer or two. If you can stay for the funeral that would be great too, and bring a date. There’s no other way we’ll fill the church, even with the number of people who will come out just to make sure I’m really dead.

Also, Jessie suggested using the tag #myfuneralsoundtrack if you want to play along, so that’s what I’m doing.

Lyric credits:

“Rock Me on the Water” lyrics by Jackson Browne, found at azlyrics.com.

“Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes” lyrics by Jimmy Buffett, found at azlyrics.com.

“Reason to Believe” lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, found at azlyrics.com.

“Allison Road” lyrics by Robin Wilson, found at azlyrics.com.

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