There are memorial services where it is entirely appropriate to play ridiculous, funny funeral songs. For example, the deceased may have had a wicked sense of humor. Or maybe your family had an ongoing joke surrounding a favorite song or movie. However, 90% of the time, more traditional music is best.
Songs Not To Play At A Funeral
Occasionally a person writes down which songs they want to play at their funeral. But most of the time, family members make the selections during a funeral’s planning stages. So funny songs aren’t usually appropriate. However, bad funeral songs just might turn out great. It all depends on the formality of the service and the deceased’s wishes.
Here are some songs I’d cross right off my funeral playlist. Unless, of course, I thought my family would think it was a riot if one of these started playing. Then I’d consider including it for one last laugh with my adult children.
- Another One Bites The Dust, Queen
- Highway To Hell, AC/DC
- Bodies, Drowning Pool
- (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult
- Forget You, Cee Lo Green
- Best Day Of My Life, American Authors
- Staying Alive, The BeeGees
- I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight, Cutting Crew
- Goodbye Earl, Dixie Chicks
- Light My Fire, The Doors
- Ring Of Fire, Johnny Cash
- Burning Down The House, Talking Heads
- Disco Inferno, The Tramps
- Bye Bye Bye, NSYNC
- What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger, Kelly Clarkson
- Hit The Road Jack, Ray Charles
- Don’t Bring Me Down, Electric Light Orchestra
- Only The Good Die Young, Billy Joel
- Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), Green Day
- Shake It Off, Tayler Swift
Worst Funeral Songs
Another One Bites The Dust, Queen
Queen’s 1980s chartbuster makes it to the top of just about all worst funeral song lists. But I still wanted to include it because it’s just so fun to think about playing it! Plus, it’s Queen!
Highway To Hell, AC/DC
When I told my husband my article’s topic, he belted out, “I’m on the hiiiighway to hell” in his best heavy-metal voice. So I knew this song was a top contender! However, don’t play it at a funeral, no matter how badly you want to. Because now I actually want to play it at his funeral (in the distant future!)
Bodies, Drowning Pool
This heavy metal song is never appropriate for funerals. Let me just say that! Skip this song about letting the bodies hit the floor. However, its official video has a top comment that had me rolling on the floor! “My grandmother used to sing this to me to put me to sleep.” Now that’s a great sense of warped humor that I can appreciate.
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult
References to the Devil and the Grim Reaper aren’t usually a good thing at funerals. So skip this one!
Forget You, Cee Lo Green
Technically more of a breakup song; this one is inappropriate for a funeral.
Best Day Of My Life, American Authors
Generally, most of us don’t think of dying or attending a funeral as the best days of our lives. So skip this song.
Staying Alive, The BeeGees
Indeed a well-loved and iconic song, Staying Alive by The Bee Gees, will have your audience hopping. But that’s not the funeral vibe you want. So listen to it now and get it out of your system.
I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight, Cutting Crew
It could be traumatizing. Or it could be funny. But this song is probably not ever appropriate for a funeral.
Goodbye Earl, Dixie Chicks
Goodbye Earl would be a good song…if you did in your abusive husband. “Ain’t it dark wrapped up in that tarp, Earl?” Unless you want the police questioning your choices, maybe skip this song.
Inappropriate Funeral Songs For A Cremation
I must say that writing this list is bringing me joy. It speaks to my dark sense of humor and makes me smile. I hope you take these inappropriate funeral songs in the same light-hearted way.
Light My Fire, The Doors
This classic by The Doors is perfectly inappropriate for a memorial service with an urn present. The thought of cremation and lighting a fire come together in dark humor.
Ring Of Fire, Johnny Cash
Another fire-related classic! But probably not what you want to play at a funeral. “And it burns, burns, burns the ring of fire.” So choose another Johnny Cash song instead, like his excellent rendition of “I’ll Fly Away”.
Burning Down The House, Talking Heads
The Talking Heads have a great song, but skipping the fire references is best for funeral songs.
Disco Inferno, The Tramps
“Burn, baby, Burn” is not the best lyric when attending a memorial service. It seems wrong to look at an urn holding cremated remains while listening to this song. Plus, the whole burning in hell piece.
Good Funeral Songs For The Last Laugh
Some songs make me smile when I think of someone playing them at a funeral. It’s not so much that they are funny funeral songs as they aren’t traditional or expected. So, for those with a sense of humor, here’s your inappropriate funeral song list.
Bye Bye Bye, NSYNC
Yes, we attend funerals to say farewell, but this may be too mean of a goodbye song. However, for an avid NSYNC fan, it might also be perfect!
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger, Kelly Clarkson
Well, how’d that work out? Guess it didn’t make you stronger if we were at your funeral. Maybe not the best message to send, but it’s a little funny!
Hit The Road Jack, Ray Charles
This classic sure does tell it how it is! A bit sassy and upbeat, this song might be great for the funeral of a Ray Charles fan. It’s a bad funeral song, but it’s also awesome!
Don’t Bring Me Down
Okay, it’s irreverent, but I can’t help thinking this light-hearted dance song would be perfect at a graveside funeral. Just as the service ends and the casket is lowered, the crowd hears, “Don’t Bring Me Down.” It makes me chuckle a little just thinking about it.
Only The Good Die Young, Billy Joel
So this funny funeral song would only work at the service for an older and very well-loved comedian type of person. However, I think it would get a chuckle or two with the proper silly introduction.
Non-Traditional But Sort Of Appropriate Songs To Play At A Funeral
There are non-traditional funeral songs that might be appropriate for a younger person’s funeral or memorial service. Or they might not?
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
This Green Day song eludes to death and living a full life. However, it is also full of angst, so it’s definitely on a might-be-okay-but-probably not list.
Shake It Off, Tayler Swift
While you can’t actually shake off death, this song might still be appropriate to play at a funeral. For example, my grandson lives and breathes Tayler Swift’s music. So playing Shake It Off to remind mourners that he would want us to shake off our grief for a few minutes while we celebrated him could be perfect.
Conclusion: Songs Not To Play At A Funeral
Even the worst funeral songs might still prove appropriate, depending on the person you’re memorializing. Music helps us grieve as it takes us to places that words alone can’t. So don’t be afraid to choose a song that others might think is a funny choice for a funeral.
You know best how to celebrate and show final respects to your loved one. So while I’m not saying you should choose any of the songs on this list, don’t automatically dismiss all of them either.
- Choose songs tailored to your loved one’s personality and style.
- Music that best expresses your grief may not be the best choice for the funeral, but they help to process the loss.
- Stick with music that the deceased loved. Or that the collective gathering of mourners can relate to.
- Skip celebratory music with offensive lyrics.
Inappropriate funeral songs might prove subjective. So if you aren’t sure about playing a piece of music, ask a family member or friend for their input.
