Farewell Songs
Many of us recently commented about getting together with old friends. That was the good news. The bad news is that our gatherings are happening at funerals. Of course, we like to refer to them as ”Celebrations of Life.”
A meaningful and integral part of the service is always the music. The selections vary from the Old Gospel Classics to songs by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alabama and Vince Gill.
There appears to be a mandatory funeral song for our dearly departed Baptist brethren, both the Hard Shell and the Deep-Water type: “Beulah Land.” I’ve passed by my share of Beulah Baptist Churches on the Alabama back roads in my travels of the state. I immediately start mumbling the final words: “Beulah land, sweet Beulah land.” Nobody does it better than Marty Raybon of Shenandoah.
No going away service would be complete without the singing of “Amazing Grace.” To me, it is the most recognizable and best-known hymn of all time. If it’s played on the bagpipes of a deceased policeman, you know St. Peter is opening the gates already. We recently sang it acapella at a dear friend’s service.
To me, the song has a deeper meaning when we understand the history behind its origin. “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton in the late 1700’s. Newton was an English slave-trader who made fun of religion. He was caught in a deadly storm and penned the song about God’s grace, even for a sinner like Newton. He later became a minister.
It is a song about hope and forgiveness. “I once was lost but now, I’m found, was blind but now I see.” Believers and even nonbelievers seem to unite between the lyrics of this old hymn. The first 3 verses are played and sung every Sunday at the Rock and Roll Church in Destin.
Another popular song today is “I Can Only Imagine” by the Christian band, Mercy Me. It is by Bart Mallard who had a rough abusive upbringing by his father. His Dad had a serious accident which caused some brain damage. He gradually changed and accepted the grace of God and changed his relationship with his son after he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
Mallard writes about only imagining what it will be like to come face to face with God. After his dad’s death, he would catch himself pondering about the eternal life by saying: I can only imagine. Will I dance for you Jesus? Will I be able to speak at all? Will I sing Hallelujah?
Vince Gill wrote the song “Go Rest High on That Mountain” after his brother died. It has become a standard “going-away” song in Nashville. He was originally inspired after his friend Keith Whitley, died from alcohol related issues. His own brother had several problems himself. I was honored to sing it at Wayne Clark’s service and Robert Bates also. No one will ever confuse me with Vince Gill.
The lyrics speak of a troubled man:
I know your time on Earth was troubled. Only you could know the pain.
You weren’t afraid to face the devil. Were no stranger to the rain.
CHORUS: Go rest high on that mountain. Son, your work on Earth is done.
Go to Heaven a shouting. Love for the Father and the Son.
Oh how we cried, the day you left us. Gathered round your grave to grieve.
Wish I had seen the angels’ faces, when they heard your sweet voice sing.
Keith Whitley had recorded “I’m No Stranger to the Rain” earlier and he had a beautiful voice. That explains a couple of the lyrics. At George Jones funeral at the Grand Ole Opry, Vince and Patty Loveless sang “Go Rest High”as a duet. Vince barely got through the song emotionally. The lyrics also described George Jones and his troubled life.
My favorite genre of music is bluegrass with Southern Gospel right behind it. Old country comes in third. These 3 musical types could be considered triplets since they are so interchangeable. If you have Pandora radio, find Old Country Hymns then shoot anybody that dares change the channel.
Elvis singing “How Great Thou Art” and “Peace in the Valley” takes the gold. These old classics also turn a somber funeral into a celebration of life that uplifts the attendees and the mourning family:
“Swing Low Sweet Chariot.” “I’ll Fly Away.” “Are You Washed?” (Or in Pentecostal snake-handling churches on Sand Mountain: Are You Warshed?) “Uncloudy Day.” “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?”
I’m just getting started.
“I Saw the Light.” “Children Go Where I Send Thee.” ”Down to the River to Pray.” “Power in the Blood.” ”Rock of Ages.” (I don’t know what a double-cure is but it has to be better than a single cure. You have to know the words to know what I am talking about.)
Some of the greatest country songs of all time talk about how it’s going to be near the end. “I’ll Go To My Grave, Loving You” by the Statler Brothers. That’s pretty strong right there.
One of my favorites is by Gene Watson: “My Farewell Party.” It takes on a slightly different tone. He is telling his girlfriend: “I know you’ll have fun at my farewell party. I know you’ll be glad when I’m gone.” He also asks her to pretend that she loves him at his farewell party. What a request.
The number one country song of all time is the classic by George Jones: “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” On the day that they put a wreath on his door and his friends saw him smiling for the first time in years, that was when he stopped loving her.
I once heard both “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Freebird” played at a friend’s farewell party. It was only appropriate for him. My buddy marched to a different drummer.
As a sidenote, never play “Crazy” by Patsy Cline or “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.” A friend said that he wanted “Pop Goes the Weasel” at his service just to see the reaction.
At the next Celebration that you attend, close your eyes and listen to the music and lyrics.
To all believers, the answer is simple:
“No. The Circle Won’t Be Broken.”
I can only imagine about resting high on that mountain.