Ghost: “Life Eternal”

Credit: Marcelo Chagas via Pexels

Your loved one was a rocker, maybe even a dyed-in-the-wool metalhead whose wardrobe consisted of black concert T-shirts. The kinds of songs played at other people’s funerals would be all wrong for your group of mourners. This loved one would find traditional songs of love, loss and hope for reunion boring. To really represent your loved one in an authentic way — and for their friends to connect with the music for this particular funeral — you need a power ballad, something a little harder and darker, such as Ghost’s “Life Eternal.”

Swedish metal band Ghost is famous for facing death head-on, sometimes tongue in cheek. Its 2018 power ballad “Life Eternal” features tender lyrics about the fleeting nature of human relationships — and the idea of being united for eternity after death. The song is intense, powerful and moving.

Can you hear me say your name–forever?
Can you see me longing for you–forever?
Would you let me touch your soul–forever?
Can you feel me longing for you–forever, forever?

I know the light grows darker down below
But in your eyes, it’s gone before you know
This is the moment of just letting go
She said, “If you had life eternal”

Can you hear me say your name–forever?
Can you see me longing for you–forever, forever?
Would you let me touch your soul–forever?
Can you feel me longing for you–forever, forever?

We dance once more, I feel your hands are cold
Within your heart, a story to be told
This is the moment of just letting go
This is the moment of just letting go!
(This is the moment of just letting go)
(This is the moment of just letting go)
(She said…)

Can you hear me say your name–forever?
Can you see me longing for you–forever, forever?
Would you let me touch your soul–forever?
Can you feel me longing for you–forever and ever?

(Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever
(Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever
(Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever
(Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever
(Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever
(Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever (Forever) Forever
If you had life eternal?

The repetition of the lyrics “This is the moment of just letting go” will comfort mourners, and the intense outro — the harmonized vocals repeating the word “forever” and singer Tobias Forge’s soft final line — evoke strong emotions. An evocative song can be cathartic for mourners. Most important, it will be appropriate and representative of the person to whom you’re bidding farewell — for now.