This was on the radio this morning, and it suddenly struck me that this is a song to add to last week's discussion of funeral playlists.
For a start, it's a wonderful Kinks song, and they were a band that was so important to the younger me. Then there's Kirsty's singing - I love the idea of her voice filling the crematorium. And finally, there are these lyrics, that I hope would be uplifting for anyone that shows up:
Thank you for the days, those endless days, those sacred days you gave me.
I’m thinking of the days, I won’t forget a single day believe me.
I bless the light, I bless the light that lights on you believe me.
And though you’re gone you’re with me every single day believe me.
Days I’ll remember all my life. Days when you can’t see wrong from right.
You took my life, but then I knew that very soon you’d leave me.
But it’s alright, now I’m not frightened of this world believe me.
I wish today could be tomorrow.
The night is long, it just brings sorrow, let it wait.
Thank you for the days, those endless days, those sacred days you gave me.
I’m thinking of the days, I won’t forget a single day believe me.
Days I’ll remember all my life. Days when you can’t see wrong from right.
You took my life, but then I knew that very soon you’d leave me.
But it’s alright, now I’m not frightened of this world believe me.
Days...
Thank you for the days, those endless days, those sacred days you gave me.
I’m thinking of the days, I won’t forget a single day believe me.
I bless the light, I bless the light that lights on you believe me.
And though you’re gone you’re with me every single day believe me.
Days...
There, that's nice, isn't it? A positive message to leave my nearest and dearest. And, as a bonus, the whole thing is over in three minutes. I don't think music played at a funeral should go on too long, do you? Anyway, here's three versions of the song:
Original video
Bonus TOTP performance
Source material...
And as an aside, the Kirsty MacColl website is an amazing resource and something of an Internet rabbit hole, with great detail about every song. Have a look sometime...
Yes!
ReplyDeleteThe Kinks' original is one of my favourite songs ever ever, having first heard it as a child from the small box of singles in the house (a while back I wrote about those first, very influential singles and how deeply embedded they are in my memory, and how this was certainly one of them). Uplifting but poignant at the same time. I loved then, and I love now, everything about it, it's perfect. Kirsty does it great justice too, a really good match. And lyrically, the song would fit the occasion so well.
Might have to nick that idea (tho' I'd specify the original version for its particular personal resonance). So, which will it be - for the filing in bit or for filing out to?!
Think I'd have it for the filing out bit. You?
DeleteYes, it'd work really well for that bit, wouldn't it? Shame we won't be there really!
DeleteHa, indeed!
Delete