Joan Bakewell: What song would you want played at your funeral?

The question

What song would you want played at your funeral?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A fixed Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Joan Bakewell

English journalist, television presenter and politician

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

A hymn called The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 October 2013 source ↗

Mentioned in this answer

Song The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended

Others on this question

View all 178 →

Gloria Gaynor Singer

A song I wrote called I Want to See You. It’s about reunion – about seeing your loved ones again in heaven. That’s the message I’d want to leave behind.

Recorded The Guardian, Honest playlist, The Guardian, 21 June 2026 source ↗

Julien Macdonald Welsh fashion designer

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 October 2016 source ↗

Kelsey Grammer American actor

I would borrow from Peter Sellers: Glenn Miller’s In The Mood.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 25 June 2016 source ↗

Clara Amfo Broadcaster

Run to the Sun by NERD. I’ve always loved that song. People always think that Pharrell [Williams] wrote it about a lover but it was about his grandmother, who passed away. My brother was a massive NERD fan – he got me into them and there’s something so pure and loving about that song. I want my funeral to be a joyous occasion, I want people to rave and to wear bright colours. But for the moment of reflection, I want that song.

Recorded The Guardian, Honest playlist, The Guardian, 7 November 2022 source ↗