Unconventional funeral songs

Created by Stefano8 on 16 Dec 2018 | Last edited by Stefano8 on 15 Mar 2022
Unconventional funeral songs

Songs that deal with death in a way that's unconventional, inconvenient, funny, disrespectful, or otherwise "weird".
In a sentence, songs that would make most people cringe if they were to hear it playing at a funeral.

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People from this family gather only when someone dies, and only to save the appearances. In reality, they can’t stand each other, nor the boring rituals they have to go through.

Translations:  English

The last will of an unconventional person: no crying or funeral faces, just a few thoughts about him, and then on with life and its pleasures.

Translations:  English

As a last act of defiance, this man subverts many social conventions, praises people who are despised by "decent" people, and leaves with a bitter consideration about how death is really a lonely matter, regardless of how we might delude ourselves about it.

Once we get past sweet-talk and platitudes, what death teaches us is to enjoy life as long as we can.

Translations:  English

Nuclear holocaust is a jolly prospect: there’ll be nobody left for grieving.

That of a gravedigger is a profession despised by most people. Yet, he’s just trying to earn his living in an honest way.

The singer lost his sweetheart to death, so he finds comfort in her sister.

8. Wolfgang Ambros - Es lebe der Zentralfriedhof German (Viennese Dialect) 

On its 100th birthday, a cemetery throws a lively party.

Translations:  English

9. Cordas et Cannas - Su testamentu Sardinian (northern dialects) 

This dying man wants no splendor nor hypocrisy for his funeral. He’s already at peace with himself and doesn't need all that nonsense.

The singer wants a happy funeral: no dying of sorrow (pena), just dying for his kind of music (plena).

Languages:  Spanish → English

Created by Diazepan Medina on Tuesday, December 18, 2018

A criminal's tombstone can't be but unconventional. He dealt with drugs, booze, and guns during his life, and he wants it to be reflected in his memory.

Translations:  English, German

The funeral of a peasant: he worked scores of land for his master, yet he'll have just a small pit as his grave. That's what's due to him, and sadly it might even be more than he ever had while still alive.

The singer revels in dreams of revenge against the man who took everything away from him.

Languages:  French → English

It would be so good not to die by chance, to be able to depart on one’s own terms.

Translations:  French

This would be a perfect theme song for the ceremony of the Darwin Awards.

Death is unavoidable, so we might as well take it lightly.

Translations:  Dutch

The singer needs to bury his grandpa, but being out of money, he has to "argue" with coffin dealers and clergymen to get what he needs.

Translations:  English #1

Everybody’s equal when facing death.

Translations:  English, Spanish

Two "minstrels" on their horses wake up the dead and offer them a chance to live again.
Yet, life is both joy and sorrow, and not everyone would welcome such an offer.

Translations:  English, Romanian

An unusual wish for the funeral ceremony: having the coffin being followed by a retinue of the typical streetcars of Milan, the home town of the singer.

Translations:  English, Polish

Comments
Sailor PokeMoon2Sailor PokeMoon2    Wed, 26/12/2018 - 12:36

I've got a good one. A classic song from the Wizard of Oz called Ding Dong the Witch is Dead (I think I got the title correct) anyway if this song was to be sung or played at a funeral I would laugh xD.