Tag Archives: Lyrics

“Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbie Gentry

Song explores disenfranchised grief

“Ode to Billie Joe,” written and performed by Bobbie Gentry, was released in 1967. It received several Grammy nominations, and quickly rose to the top of the charts. The song is soulful and emotionally complex. The narrator, a young woman … Continue reading

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”I Am Mine” by Pearl Jam

This song highlights the tragedy of lives that are taken away far too soon

It should have been a day of celebration and music, but it ended in mayhem. More than 50,000 people stood in front of the Roskilde stage on June 30, 2000, waiting for Pearl Jam to perform. Shortly into the band’s … Continue reading

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 “Satisfied Mind” by Jeff Buckley

A classic song that celebrates a life well-lived as opposed to material goods

Jeff Buckley’s song ‘Satisfied Mind’ offers a beautiful take on the end of life. In this classic song, Buckley comments that money can’t buy back time, and when the end of your life approaches, the most wonderful thing to have is … Continue reading

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 “You Can Close Your Eyes” by James Taylor

A powerful and sweet song that would be the perfect tune to remember your loved one

If you’re looking for a thoughtful, beautiful song to play at a memorial service or funeral, consider playing “You Can Close Your Eyes” by James Taylor. Taylor is a five-time Grammy Award winner, and was inducted into the Rock and … Continue reading

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”All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”

- Henry Ellis
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 “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King

A message of love, through space and time, that continues to heal wounds in Carole King

While death is never explicitly addressed in this classic song by Carole King, one can imagine it as a fitting piece of music for a beautiful memorial. There is something eternal and soul-like in King’s depiction of a friendship where … Continue reading

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