Bella Freud: What song would you like played at your funeral?

What song would you like 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.

Recorded Bella Freud said elsewhere, not written here

Get Up, Stand Up by Bob Marley.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 September 2017 source ↗

Others on this question

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Joan Bakewell English journalist, television presenter and politician

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

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

Denise Lewis Heptathlete and broadcaster

I’m living for ever, so I won’t be having one. But just in case, I can imagine My Way by Frank Sinatra belting out as I’m cremated or put in the ground.

Recorded The Guardian, Honest playlist, The Guardian, 18 January 2026 source ↗

Rita Ora British singer-songwriter

Frank Sinatra singing My Way.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 August 2015 source ↗

Timmy Mallett Broadcaster and painter

At my late brother Martin’s funeral we played He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother by the Hollies. Martin lived a life that inspired me with the way he approached his learning difficulties and the love he showed us all with his Down’s syndrome. I often think that extra chromosome of Down’s syndrome is a chromosome of love, and you can’t have too much love in the world, can you?

Recorded The Guardian, Honest playlist, The Guardian, 1 January 2024 source ↗