Funeral Playlists

On October 17, 2008, The California Report asked listeners to call in or email a playlist they'd create for their own funeral. Here are their responses, along with a few from KQED staff members. Descriptions have been edited for length.

Will McCandless, San Francisco

• "Spring Wind" by Greg Brown -- His music has long been my solace during difficult times.
• "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison -- This song reminds me of everything that is most beautiful in this world.
• "This is My Story, This is My Song" by Thelonius Monk -- I hope to go somewhere when I die. Maybe I'll go to Heaven.

Michele Parisi, Concord
Although I just turned 40 this summer, I've had my playlist selected for a long time.

• "Kind and Generous" by Natalie Merchant -- To thank my family and friends for all the kindnesses and blessings they've shared during my life.
• "Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison
• "Amazing Grace" (Traditional)

Scott Bidstrup, San Ramon de Alajuela, Costa Rica
I have only one choice, and it will be a formal request in my will. I intend to have a very simple funeral - no speechifying, no weeping and wailing, no phony eulogies. My CD of Brahms' German Requiem will be played from beginning to end. Nothing else. They come in, listen to it and leave for the burial. That's it. In that music, Brahms says everything I want said at my funeral, and the music is some of the most exquisite ever written. Since my health is declining and I expect my demise fairly soon, I have already given a good deal of thought to this. I have long since decided that this will be the way I am going to go out. If my religious family doesn't like that, they'd better get used to it because that's the way it's going to be.

• Brahms: A German Requiem

Laura Nilsen, San Francisco

• "Across the Border" by Bruce Springsteen -- I cry every time I hear this song, and I'd like people to cry at my funeral, then wipe away their tears and smile.

Kathleen Christman

• "I Have a Dream" by ABBA
• "The Bridge" by Elton John
• "Forever Young" by Joan Baez

Leigh Hill, Felton
I've had these picked out for several years already.

• "Live Forever" by Billy Joe Shaver
• "Let the Mystery Be" by Iris DeMent
• "Someday I Will Lead the Parade" by Patty Loveless

Dan Quinajon
About two years ago, I lost my dad suddenly. I know how hard it can be to compile songs which compliment someone you love at this final farewell. I don't know if I have a list for myself yet, but these are some of the songs I played at my dad's funeral.

• "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" performed by Hawaiian artist Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
• "Landslide" by Dixie Chicks
• "If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago

Elizabeth Eaton, Mountain View

• "Amazing Grace (Traditional)" performed by Ani DiFranco
• "How Can I Keep from Singing? (Traditional)" performed by Eva Cassidy
• "Oh Had I a Golden Thread (Pete Seeger)" performed by Dar Williams

Molly Harris, San Rafael

• "And She Was" by Talking Heads
• "Time is On My Side" by The Rolling Stones
• A medley of "Cabaret" from the "Cabaret Soundtrack" by Liza Minelli and "Don't Rain on My Parade" from the "Funny Girl Soundtrack" by Barbara Streisand

Robert Viera, Los Altos
I recently had to choose the music for my father's funeral, and these two songs fit perfectly. There were more I can't remember right now, but these two songs really spoke to what I wanted to say.

• "An Ending (Ascent)" by Brian Eno
• "Periscopes" by The Beautiful Girls

Steve Runick, San Francisco

• "For All We Know" by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack
• "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" performed by Eva Cassidy
• "All My Tears" by Emmylou Harris

Cheryl Bernard Shaw Morgan, Mountain House

• "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
• "Walk Around Heaven" performed by Mahalia Jackson
• "His Eye is on the Sparrow" (Traditional Gospel)

Cy Musiker, San Francisco (KQED Radio News anchor)

• "Some Other Time" from "On the Town" by Leonard Bernstein

John Myers, Sacramento (KQED's Sacramento bureau chief)

• "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" performed by Irvin Mayfield, Jr.
• "Life by the Drop" by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Rachael Myrow, San Francisco (host of KQED's The California Report)

• Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries

Nina Thorsen, San Francisco (director of KQED's The California Report Magazine)

• "Where Have All the Flowers Gone? (Pete Seeger)" performed by Wes Montgomery
• "Hana" by Shoukichi Kina, performed by Jiang Jian Hua
• "How Can I Keep from Singing? (Traditional)" performed by Gordon Bok, Ann Mayo Muir and Ed Trickett

Suzie Racho, San Francisco (producer of KQED's The California Report Magazine)

• "In Your Own Sweet Way" by Dave Brubeck
• "Flim" by Aphex Twin
• "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" by Nat King Cole

Scott Shafer, San Francisco (host of KQED's The California Report Magazine)

• "The Heart of the Matter" by Don Henley
• "#9 Dream" by John Lennon
• "You Bring Me Joy" by Anita Baker

• Listen to the program in the archives