Music, songs, and lyrics are topics that often crop up in this community - some talk about finding comfort in songs, whilst others may struggle to listen to old favourites because of the memories they trigger. I was reminded of these conversations when I read a moving blog on our main website, written by someone who is running the London Marathon this year in memory of his mum.
“It’s amazing how you can attach feelings to a song, which will forever draw an emotional response”
Ryan talks about Coldplay’s song ‘Everglow’, which for him is forever associated with his mum:
"When I think of Mum, it always seems to be Coldplay songs that come to mind. The lyrics of Everglow and Christmas Lights both resonate so deeply, whilst the introduction of Charlie Brown would instantly make me think of Mum and bring tears to my eyes, both now and throughout Mum’s illness."
You can read Ryan’s entire blog here: https://www.sueryder.org/blog/how-can-one-song-mean-so-much
Have you had a similar experience with music, or a song in particular?
‘It must be love’ by Madness was to become our song, but to honest I can’t remember why as it wasn’t originally the one we had, which faded away. The words are now particularly poignant as the song says it all. I have lovely memories of us listening to it and singing along in the car, or in our kitchen. It is strange because the song talks about missing people and it is quite sad really. It’s almost like we knew that something bad was going to happen. The lyrics start…
I never thought I’d miss you, quite as much as I do
And I never thought I’d feel this way,
The way I feel about you
As soon as I wake up, every night, every day
I know that it’s you I need
To take the blues away
It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
Nothing more, nothing less
Love is the best
How can it be that we can
Say so much without words?
Bless you and bless me,
Bless the bees
And the birds
I’ve got to be near you
Every night, every day
I couldn’t be happy, any other way
It must be love, …etc
I played it at the start of his funeral.
On the very exact start of the first note of the song a strong shaft of beautiful light came through the window of the building onto me. Everyone saw it. It was amazing. I like to think he was showing his approval.
At the end of the funeral I played A Thousand Years, by Christina Perry. That’s is very beautiful too but the Madness one is VERY special to me and always makes me cry.
For me it’s a track from Voices of the valleys by The Fron Male Voice Choir. It’s called ‘Home’ and it features Will Martin.
It was one of my wife’s favourites and I played it throughout her final hours to help her be peaceful. Unfortunately I can’t listen to it at the moment. It just floors me.
‘I’ve got you under my skin,
I’ve got you deep in the heart of me,
So deep in my heart that you’re really a part of me,
I’ve got you under my skin.’
Just heard Frank Sinatra singing this on the radio and I thought yeah…
Somewhere Over The Rainbow:
Someday I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That’s where you’ll find me
xxxxxxxx
Nothing Else Matters by Metallica.
It just says it like it is.
All of me by John legend for me. it played on my mum’s alarm clock (that was not even turned on) a few days after she does. I know if sounds weird but it’s like a sign.
Arms Open by The Script. I’ve just quoted a line from it on another thread so thought I’d post on here too. This track was released just after my husband passed. It’s like he is singing it to me telling me that his arms are open knowing what I am suffering.
That is to be my funeral song. I love the Eva Cassidy version xx
Yes, I too love the Eva Cassidy version Debra, just magical. It was Israel Kamakawiwoʻole who sang his version along with Wonderful World at my beautiful husband’s funeral…died seventeen months tomorrow; wonderful, kind soul, xx
This is the only time by Andrea Bocelli. I’ve just listened to this song on radio 2. It’s so lovely.
Hi there for me it was the Three Degrees when will I see you again it reminds me of the summer of 1974 when I first started loving her engaged in the November married August 1975 43 years lost her November 2018 this was played at her funeral along with Louis Armstrongs we have all the time in the world it reminded her when Diana Rigg died in the arms of George Lazenby it reminded me of all the times we were late for doctors and hospital appointments as she took ill.
Thirdly evergreen by Barbara Streisand she liked The 1976 version of a star is born she didn’t fancy the new one just before she passed away.all three were played at her funeral and I play them most days makes me sad and long to see her but I hope she would like my choice sorry text a bit long and perhaps greedy with 3 songs but these three remind me of Jane
. MM69