For many years, songs have been a great way of reminding people of someone who has passed away.
They may have had the song played at their funeral, been the last song that you listened to with that person, a song that was created in memory of that person.
In this thread, you can share with us the songs that mean the most to you when it comes to remembering someone that has passed away and the stories behind these songs
In 1990, en route from Hurgada to Cairo, Egypt, my husband and I were involved in an automobile accident that took his life. He had been working as a consultant for a resort complex under construction in the Red Sea community, but was based in Cairo. As frequent trips were required between Cairo and the construction site, and because those trips were more often made by car than by plane, my husband passed the time en route by sharing cassettes of music he enjoyed with our driver; the driver, in turn, would play his tapes. One of those tapes was of Willie Nelson’s “greatest hits,” and one of those hits was “i’d Have to Be Crazy.” 1990 was a long time ago, I know; but even now, writing this is very, very difficult. “But I’d have to be crazy, Plum out of my mind, To fall out of love with you.
My beautiful Wife and very best friend Karen was a big fan of Westlife and we were both lucky enough to go and see them perform live on 4 occasions.
Karen sadly lost her battle with cancer in 2013 and for me there was only ever going to be one song that I wanted to be played at her funeral service.
It is a song that anyone who has gone through a tragic loss in their life will be really able to relate to and appreciate why the words mean so much to me.
The song that I chose to be played and which still to this day means so much to me is from the Westlife album 'Where We Are' and is called 'I'll See You Again'.
RIP Karen And I Shall See You Again xxx
Greatest Day by Take That will always have an incredible place in my heart, My husband and I were both divorced but thankfully found each other. One of our first dates was a Take That concert and Greatest Day was one of the first songs they played. The words make me tingle when I think about me and my husband.
My granddaughter recently mentioned your site to me and reading the stories of memorable songs really pulled at my heart strings. Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again" always brings a lump to my throat as it was played at my dads funeral. He served as a sergeant during the war and every time I hear that song, I can't help but get very emotional. Watching the final of Britain's got Talen last year, the D-Day Darlings brought back all those memories again and i'm sure they did for everyone. Just thinking about the words to that song I have a tear in my eye now - they are such lovely words and bring such comfort to many.
First of all I love what Myfarewellnote is all about and I just wish that some of my family and friends that have passed away over the years had left me some sort of message.
One of my family members that I have sadly lost is my sister Kelly who passed away back in 1995.
My family and I discussed which song that we felt was most fitting to be played at her funeral and we opted for One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. Kelly had always listened to Boyz II Men and my Brother In Law told us the first song that he heard on the radio after her passing, was strangely enough this song. It is also a wonderful song with some extremely powerful words that felt so right to be played in memory of Kelly.
Every year on the anniversary of her death, we have a family get together and always make sure we play this song which we know will have Kelly looking down on us and listening along to it.
It's not something we as humans go through every day, but sooner or later, we will loose a loved one. A good friend of mine lost her daughter in a car accident. My friend accompanied her daughter to a 'westlife' concert after a friend pulled out at the last minute. They had a great " mother and daughter ' bonding time. She remembers, they played 'You raise me up' they sang to each other and danced. Little did my friend know what was to happen a year later. It goes without saying she misses her daughter, but when she hears or plays the song, she smiles instead of crying, goes back to that happy time, albeit for a few minutes. We all have a memory attached to a piece of music. Good to see myfarewellnote gets involved with charity work. My son has aspergers syndrome, I found the site through an, Anna Kennedy online tweet, well done to her, great site she has. Not sure how long she has had it up and running, but I've only just found it. ' Always look on the bright side of life' x
The song " Nothing compares to you" written by Prince, but made famous by the beautiful Sinead O'Conner in 1990. Wow, how time fly's. This is the song I have arranged for my father's funeral. RIP pops xx
The song that holds great memories of my younger sister is Pray by Take That.
My little Sister Jenny was only 19 years old when she lost her life following a serious illness and had always been a massive fan of Take That, she even still had posters of them on her wall despite me taking the 'p' out of her, mind you she got her own back laughing at the football posters on my wall!
2 months or so before she passed away, she decided to break up from her boyfriend Jamie who to be fair was a lovely guy and I did feel very sorry for him.
At her funeral reception, Jamie got up wanting to say a few words and ended this by playing 'Pray' on the stereo. It was a song that he said summed up how he felt about Jenny and he broke down in tears, as did the majority of people at the reception including myself.
I can't say that I listen to Take That too much myself, but whenever I hear this song, it brings a lump to my front and reminds me of my little sister who I am sure is up in heaven still besotted by and listening to Take That.
RIP and miss you loads Little Sis
"What Might Have Been" by Little Texas always reminds me of my dear cousin Nathan. He passed away weeks before I had the chance to meet him. He died two weeks short of his 18th birthday. I was 16. We hadn't met due to family issues. He was planning to leave his dad's house after he turned 18, to meet his mom (my aunt) and live with her for a while before eventually meeting me. We had been in contact for maybe two years. I loved him. I don't know what he looked like. We spoke on the phone a couple of days (he was using a pay phone because his dad was so controlling) before he died from a tragic car accident. He had concrete plans. He was leaving on his birthday, planning to take a bus from Texas to a plain state. He was so happy when I last spoke with him. He was so sweet in spite of his upbringing. I remember after learning he died that I went to Kmart for something. This was maybe two days after he died. I was looking at birthday cards because I was thinking I needed to get him a birthday card when "What Might Have Been" started playing through the store's speakers. Nathan really liked that song. That's when I realized I didn't need to get him a birthday card. So anytime I hear that song I think about my cousin and I go through a gamut of emotions. Nathan Nelson: Sept 28, 1975 - Sept 14, 1993.
Thank you for story Darren and having shared it on our Twitter account, it has certainly received some lovely responses from followers of Take That which would will no doubt put a smile on the face of your sister Jenny who is hopefully looking down on us and seeing this.
One response was to inform you that Take That have actually recorded a new version of this classic song and having heard it myself, I recommend that you take a listen to it. It is a much more of a slowed down ballad and I for one think it is wonderful.
Thank you for taking the time to post on our forum and best wishes to you,
Chris H Of The myfarewellnote Team
