The Good Funeral Guide

Two great European narcotics,
Alcohol and Christianity,
I know which one I prefer

We never went to church,
Just get on with work and sometimes things’ll hurt,
But it’s hit me since you left us,
And it’s so hard not to search.

If you were still about,
I’d ask you what I’m supposed to do now,
I just get a bit scared,
Every now,
Hope I made you proud.

On your birthday when mom passed the forks and spoons,
I put my head on the table I was so distraught with you,
You tidied your things into the bin,
The more poorly you grew,
So there’s nothing of yours to hold or to talk to.

Put your hand up and interrupt the conversation with a, but..
People say I interrupt people with the same look.
Sometimes I think so hard I can’t remember how your face looked,
Started reading about dreams in your favourite book.
Panic and pace when I can’t see the right thing to do.
You’d be scratching your head through the best advice you knew.
And I feel sad I can’t hear you reciting it through,
I miss you dad but I’ve got nothing to remind me of you

[Chorus]

I needed a break when your book about dreams was taken,
I needed to pray or see a priest that day,
I needed to leave this trade and just heave it away.
But I cleaned up my place like you so I could see things straight.

I never cared about God when life was sailin’ in the calm,
So I said I’d get my head down and I’d deal with the ache in my heart,
And for that if God exists I’d reckon he’d pay me regard,
Mom says me and you are the same from the start.

I guess than you did leave me something to remind me of you,
Everytime I interrupt someone like you used to,
When I do something like you you’ll be on my mind or through,
‘Cause I forgot you left me behind to remind me of you.

[Chorus x2]

But you you still tell me how you didn’t know what to do even now,
And then I’m not so scared somehow,
‘Cause I know that you’d be proud.

I got a good one for you dad,
I’m gonna see a priest, a Rabbi and a Protestant clergyman,
You always said I should hedge my bets.

Hat tip to Richard Rawlinson

Smot is performed at Cambodian funerals to prompt people to think about the meaning of their lives.

Smot is not only for funerals, but also other occasions, such as Pchum Ben, the birthday of the king or queen and other religious ceremonies.

The teachings of the chants remind us of the inexorable forces of change from birth to death.

“I fear this tradition may not last long. These art forms will be lost if we do not care about them.”

[Source]

I first heard Adele’s song at the funeral of a young boy who died by suicide earlier this year. Songs are like that. They can become woven around memories of events that made a strong emotional impact on us. The depth of grief I witnessed among his friends was heartbreaking. One of them who spoke during the funeral could barely hold himself together. The life he had known was shattered; the future he might have had with his friend had been stolen from him. Grief had wounded him in a way he had possibly never known until that moment.

Read the whole article in the Irish Times here. 

This music video may interest you. Here’s some text from Consequence of Sound: 

Everyone deals with death in their own personal way, but psych-rock outfit Crystal Antlers offers a unique perspective on the topic in their music video for “Dog Days”. In said clip, a group of friends commemorate a dead friend by carrying around his/her ashes in various cups and cookie jars, as if said friend is still “one of the guys.” For a final tribute, they channel the Vikings by setting up a funeral pyre and spreading the friend’s ashes throughout the woods.

The song is called Dog Days. Find Crystal Antlers’ website here.

You know I’ll never fade away,
You know I’ll never fade away,
You know I’ll never fade away,
You know I’ll never fade away.

But if I do, it’ll be because you asked me to.

You know I’ll never break in two,
You know I’ll never break in two,
You know I’ll never break in two,
You know I’ll never break in two,

But if I do, it’ll be because you asked me to,
But if I do, it’ll be because you asked me to.

I know you laugh behind my back,
I know you know I’m on my own,
But one day it will turn around,
And you’ll be waiting,
Knowing I’m not coming home.

You know I’ll never fade away,
You know I’ll never fade away,
You know I’ll never fade away,
You know I’ll never fade away.

But if I do, it’ll be because you asked me to,
But if I do, it’ll be because you asked me to.

Whatever you ask of me I will obey,
Give me the word, I’ll start fading away,
Whatever you ask of me I will obey,
Just give me the word, I’ll start fading!
I’m down on my knees could I get much more clear,
Give me the word and I will disappear,
But when I’m gone I’m gone and whatever you say I’ll obey dear.

You know I’ll never fade away,
You know I’ll never fade away,
You know I’ll never fade away,
You know I’ll never fade away.

But if I do, it’ll be because you asked me to,
But if I do, it’ll be because you asked me to.

A nice bit of demonic possession here from Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. A good funeral song for those looking for an anarchic touch. A love-it-or-hate-it song, in other words. 

I love you, I love you,
I love you anyhow
I don’t care if you don’t want me
I’m yours anyhow

Screamin’s Wikipedia entry here