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And if a Double-Decker Bus Crashes into Us: The Last Song

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Comment Diversions | Comments (94)

coffin_.jpg

As Halloween approaches, people like to pretend to be morbid, speaking of death and zombies and setting out fake coffins and tombstones in their front yards. They dress up in scary costumes and have parties celebrating the Festival of the Dead, all the while feeling certain the grim reaper has other business to attend to. And let’s hope he does, but meanwhile, fuck all that. Let’s take a moment to get truly morbid… just a little bit somber and serious. What if you could pick the last song you’d ever hear before you die? I’m not talking about what you want played at your funeral, rather (literally) the last song you want vibrating your eardrums as your eyes finally close. Whether or not you choose to describe the circumstances surrounding that moment (laying in the grass, holding hands with your one, true love, etc.), at least share the song you want to fade out to.

Me, I’d definitely like to be beachside, evening time, with whomever might still love me (if there is anyone left) by my side. And I can’t think of a more beautiful voice to lull me away than Moz’s; the song: There Is a Light That Never Goes Out:


What’s your death theme song, Pajibans? (Anyone who says Hallelujah automatically earns a Murdertank drive-by shooting.)


My name is Cindy Davis; I am not prepared to die.









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Comments

"Lay Me Low"

I'd probably be betraying myself if I chose anything else, like the hypothetical afterlife me would never let me hear the end of it for missing the chance at a good joke.

They can play "A Box For Black Paul" in my funeral's DJ set for added humor. Yes, my funeral will be DJ'ed, but there'll also be karaoke.

Posted by: Jay at October 23, 2011 2:12 PM

I suppose "The Mercy Seat" should also be in the last hour's batting order, before bravado gives way to laughing.

Posted by: Jay at October 23, 2011 2:15 PM

"Memories and Dust" by Josh Pyke. It has the happiest associations with me, and its pretty on point.

Posted by: DamnYankees at October 23, 2011 2:17 PM

I'm tempted to just say my favorite song, which is "Alison" by Elvis Costello, and I think that the perfect dying song would be "Tango till They're Sore" by Tom Waits. But I wouldn't want it to be the perfect dying song, I'd want it to be something I could rock out and sing to like "Caravan" by Van Morrison or the Stones' version of "Like a Rolling Stone."

Final answer: "Telegraph Road" by Dire Straits. Forget symbolism, I want my last moments to be as long as possible.

Posted by: Me at October 23, 2011 2:23 PM

"After an Afternoon" by Jason Mraz. The live version. Preferably while laying next to someone I love. I thought about "Bright Eyes" by Mraz as well, or "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" by Deathcab, but "Bright Eyes" didn't quite gel, and Deathcab seems cliche as Hell.

Posted by: rorny at October 23, 2011 2:24 PM

The hard part for me is deciding whether I want a song that relates to death in some way, or if I want to shuffle off this mortal coil listening to the my absolute favorite song. Of course, it would behoove me to actually sit down and decide what my favorite song is. Ah, I'm not worried, I've got plenty of time, right?

Posted by: AngelArm45 at October 23, 2011 2:29 PM

Posted by: Jay at October 23, 2011 2:33 PM

Jacqueline du Pré's recording of Dvorak's "Silent Woods." Doubt we'll need words where we're going, but if there's an afterlife of any kind I can't imagine it without cello music.

Posted by: Colin at October 23, 2011 2:43 PM

The outro to Between the Buried and Me's "Selkies: The Endless Obsession"

Try and disagree.
hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM0y65VZK84#t=03m36s

Posted by: DangadaDang at October 23, 2011 2:43 PM

Don't anyone dare play music while I'm dying. Have a little respect.

Posted by: Pfft at October 23, 2011 2:55 PM

I mean, what if I have something profound to say and you can't hear me over Morrissey bleating in the background?

Posted by: Pfft at October 23, 2011 2:58 PM

Blow Away by George Harrison

Posted by: Ruinogg at October 23, 2011 3:01 PM

The same song that I want played as the last song at my wake. Highway to Hell, the Bon Scott version thank you very much. All the self righteous bible thumpers and preachy pricks can kiss my ass. My last will and testament already states no funeral, no preacher, no prayers, no crosses, etc. and cremation of the corpse. My ashes are to spread over my favorite hunting property or trash canned. If somebody chooses different I won't have much to say about it as I will be dead.

Posted by: clancys_daddy at October 23, 2011 3:10 PM

Let me just say that Hallelujah is my favourite song ever written. But it is not a fucking funeral song, and I get so angry at people who say it is. It's about sex and broken hearts, and is that what you want to represent you as you die?

That being said, I think I want to die to Heretic Pride by The Mountain Goats.

Posted by: A-schaef at October 23, 2011 3:21 PM

Alela Diane, "White as Diamonds". Hopefully a live version - super somber.

Posted by: jarf at October 23, 2011 3:33 PM

Eyepennies by Sparklehorse. Fitting themes and an excellent listen.

Posted by: Renton at October 23, 2011 3:35 PM

@A-schaef: I just bought that Mountains Goats album yesterday! What a coinkydink.

Posted by: Me at October 23, 2011 3:36 PM

All Saints "War Of Nerves" if I die after a long illness.

Smashing Pumpkins "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" if I die violently.

Chrisette Michele's cover of No Doubt's "Don't Speak" if I die of a broken heart.

And of course Nine Inch Nails "Closer" if I die while either giving or recieving oral sex.

Posted by: flamingnomad at October 23, 2011 3:37 PM

Radiohead - Videotape, Nude, Pyramid Song, Lucky, No Surprises.

I plan to to force my remaining loved ones to endure Smokey Taboo by CocoRosie at the party celebrating my demise.

Posted by: Iheartlasagne at October 23, 2011 3:44 PM

"Back Down South" by Kings of Leon. Most beautiful guitar line.

Posted by: L-Za at October 23, 2011 3:44 PM

My best friend's father had a long painful death from cancer. On the night he actually died, he was listening to Mozart and his last words were, "It's beautiful".

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at October 23, 2011 3:49 PM

4'33" by John Cage

Posted by: Xvi at October 23, 2011 4:10 PM

Pantera-"Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills"

Posted by: DeistBrawler at October 23, 2011 4:23 PM

Radiohead, "Reckoner." It's just so pretty and it's easy to let fade into the background.

Posted by: Julie at October 23, 2011 4:45 PM

Dolly Parton 9-5. I have my reasons

Posted by: Nieve 'The Threadkiller Queen' at October 23, 2011 4:47 PM

"Because" by Beatles. Ever since I saw American Beauty that song just occupied a special spot in my soul. And maybe some Japanese song... For my grandmother who died of liver cancer and morphined up to the point of claiming there was a rat inside her, it was always HYMNS, the reason she went into Christian faith. She died singing a Hymn...

@ Julien thanks for sharing that by the way.

Posted by: yocean at October 23, 2011 4:47 PM

I'd go with Hollaback Girl. I want my funeral to be as confusing as Catholic dogma, which will precede my decaying corpse dropping into the hole.

Posted by: Robert at October 23, 2011 4:57 PM

Let It Be

Posted by: The Wanderer at October 23, 2011 4:58 PM

"goove is in the heart" by dee-lite. or "cosmic girl" by jamiroquai.

Posted by: pitu at October 23, 2011 5:00 PM

"Valem Decum" by Murray Gold.

http://youtu.be/GZ9n-4UOwaI

Posted by: Anthony Hoffman at October 23, 2011 5:34 PM

"Also Sprach Zarathustra," because maybe it'll make me think I'm about to experience some awesome cosmic awakening or something.

Posted by: Todd at October 23, 2011 5:39 PM

Total Eclipse of the Heart.

Posted by: Anna von Beav at October 23, 2011 5:44 PM

Why the hell would I want to listen to music when I can just listen to the screams of the passengers of the bus I'm driving off the cliff.

Too morbid?

Posted by: Ballymena Bob at October 23, 2011 5:51 PM

"Big Sky Country" by Chris Whitley as I die. But at my actual funeral I want "California Dreamin'".

Posted by: heatseeker at October 23, 2011 5:52 PM

*?

Posted by: Ballymena Bob at October 23, 2011 5:52 PM

"Some Dusty Things" by Ron Sexsmith, or perhaps R.E.M.'s "Try Not To Breathe." Both a little on-the-nose, lyrically, but I'll stick with them. Hmm, apparently I plan to go out on a bit of a sad note. Bummer.

Posted by: meaux at October 23, 2011 6:05 PM

"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life", preferably the version where people have the ovaries to actually sing the word "shit".

Posted by: Jim Doggie at October 23, 2011 6:10 PM

I would just want to hear the rain on a tin roof.

Posted by: Samantha at October 23, 2011 6:35 PM

Have You Ever Seen The Rain - CCR

Posted by: DominaNefret at October 23, 2011 6:36 PM

Into the Mystic- Van Morrison
Gasoline Drawers - Holmes Brothers

Posted by: Walter at October 23, 2011 6:38 PM

Your Hand in Mine - Explosions in the Sky
No lyrics, just beautiful music to fade into and away.

Posted by: TrasanD at October 23, 2011 6:59 PM

"An Ending (Ascent)" by Brian Eno

Posted by: nightman at October 23, 2011 7:00 PM

"Low Rider" by War, or if I've got a few more minutes, "Heroes" by David Bowie.

Posted by: Groundloop at October 23, 2011 7:23 PM

Tubular Bells.

Posted by: snapnhiss at October 23, 2011 7:29 PM

Bjork's "It's so quiet"

No reason other than that it's made of pure awesome.

Posted by: Arrogant Ambassador at October 23, 2011 7:32 PM

anything by air supply i was listening to them when i came into this world i'll listen to them going out.

Posted by: Utah Dynamo at October 23, 2011 7:37 PM

"Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo (Danny Elfman's band) Nothing like a New Wave ditty about a funeral.

Besides, I really want my funeral to be a big party rather than a bunch of people moping around and crying. Just a gathering of people watching movies I've yet to make, listening to music that was on my iPod and eating food that I would have if I ran the world. I'm partial to southern BBQ, Vanilla Cokes and lots of pie. I like pie. People would laugh, burp and blissfully say how I was a daffy bastard. And while I would prefer to be cremated and my ashes scattered, if I can't have that, then I demand my carcass be propped up in a big comfy chair in my equally comfortable weekend clothes with the game on a big screen next to me. I've never worn a suit for more than a few hours at a time in my life and I'll be damned if I'm going to spend the rest of eternity decomposing in one.

Posted by: bleujayone at October 23, 2011 7:58 PM

"Walking' Talkin' Deadman" by the Pine Hill Haints, because thinking about zombies might just will me back to life.

Posted by: Ninja Toes at October 23, 2011 8:11 PM

"The End" by The Beatles. I want something short and sweet, so I can finish it before I croak.

Posted by: Pat at October 23, 2011 8:12 PM

REM - South Central Rain, King of Birds,a bunch more of their early stuff.

Posted by: Captain Tuttle at October 23, 2011 8:15 PM

MLK by U2 or Country Feedback by REM.

Posted by: The Woo at October 23, 2011 8:17 PM

And, being the clinically depressed, morbidly obsessed person I am, I will be spending quite a bit of time this week looking up other peoples choices on youtube.

Posted by: The Woo at October 23, 2011 8:19 PM

"I Wish I Was the Moon" by Neko Case

or

"Shelter From the Storm" by Dylan. "Beauty walks a razor's edge, some day I'll make it mine..."

Posted by: futuredirect at October 23, 2011 8:29 PM

Paloma Faith's cover of Sexy Bitch, Sexy Minx. Because it's true.

Posted by: Brook at October 23, 2011 8:32 PM

u changed my mind i want to hear Dracula's theme music at my funeral

Posted by: Utah Dynamo at October 23, 2011 8:36 PM

u changed my mind i want to hear Dracula's theme music at my funeral

Why? Do you expect to come back?


Mine is I Started A Joke by Faith No More.

Posted by: FabMax at October 23, 2011 8:48 PM

Radiohead- Lucky

Posted by: Kim at October 23, 2011 9:03 PM

Gnarls Barkley, "Going On"

Posted by: ChristianH at October 23, 2011 9:07 PM

No wait, that's too fun. How 'bout "Who's Gonna Save My Soul Now?"

Sung by my wife. Over my casket. Choir in the background.

Credits.

Posted by: ChristianH at October 23, 2011 9:10 PM

Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones. I am incapable of getting sick of this song.

Posted by: Sam at October 23, 2011 9:17 PM

Running Up That Hill by Placebo or Disenchanted by My Chemical Romance I know they are a bit depressing but I can not get enough of those songs.

Posted by: Addy at October 23, 2011 9:37 PM

'Here Comes a Regular', the Replacements.

Though Dvorak and John Adams, nice calls - who are the interlopers on this site?

Posted by: Tao at October 23, 2011 9:47 PM

Funerals are boring as shit, man.

I'd want to liven things up so, "I'm Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves.

That or "I am a Scientist" by Guided by Voices.

Posted by: Danny Smooth at October 23, 2011 9:51 PM

Find the River - REM

Posted by: Monkeydriven at October 23, 2011 10:37 PM

I'd rather be alone, dying naturally, with "Only When I Lose Myself" from Depeche Mode playing in the background as I slip away

Posted by: Rest In Peace at October 23, 2011 11:31 PM

"Quiet" by Rachael Yamagata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEr-gG2v6I8

Posted by: HungryHungryHippolyta at October 24, 2011 12:48 AM

"Long Time Traveller" by the Wailin' Jennys. Beautiful, simple, and peaceful.

Posted by: Dorothy Snarker at October 24, 2011 12:55 AM

It doesn't have anything to do with dying or the end of anything, but I'd like to go out listening to Nina Simone's Feeling Good. Come to think of it, I'd probably want it played at my funeral, just to confuse the everliving fuck out of my friends and family.

http://youtu.be/h8tuTSi6Sck

Posted by: Soda at October 24, 2011 3:42 AM

Since I left you - The Avalanches

Posted by: getduffed at October 24, 2011 5:17 AM

I've got to go for my favourite song, 'Talk To Me of Mendocino', by Kate and Anna McGarrigle. The album version is even more beautiful than this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR5qvARSx2Y. I've never been to Mendocino, but this makes me think of home, and of the sweet, simple pleasures in life.

Posted by: Caspar at October 24, 2011 6:04 AM

This is my message to you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LanCLS_hIo4

Posted by: Chairman of the Bored at October 24, 2011 8:56 AM

Mm...I'd rather not listen to anything. I tend to start panicking if I can't hear real-world sounds. Even if it's sirens or whatever.

It'd actually just be nice to be die during the fall with chilly breezes, brightly lit early mornings and everyone still asleep. I love the sound of lightly moving winds, and rustling leaves...

Posted by: Candee at October 24, 2011 9:17 AM

Moon River, sung by Andy Williams. Or The Monkees' Daydream Believer.

Posted by: Sofia at October 24, 2011 9:25 AM

Taki Rari by Yma Sumac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PggLccRN6Ds

rrrrRRRROOOOOOWWWWWWWW

Posted by: shawnp at October 24, 2011 9:26 AM

If I am slipping away at the end of it all, music would be nice, maybe Landslide by Stevie Nicks, but all I would really want to hear is my son's voice.

If a bus is about to hit me, I'd like to be blasting along in my car singing along with Judy Garland's version of The Man That Got Away. The impact may not take place until she gets to the part of the song where you think she is giving it all she's got, and then she really opens up for this section:

Good riddance, good-bye!
Ev'ry trick of his you're on to.
But, fools will be fools -
And where's he gone to?

Cue the bus!

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at October 24, 2011 9:29 AM

fly on the windscreen- depeche mode

Posted by: gp at October 24, 2011 9:48 AM

Both Hands
Ani Difranco

Posted by: ankitty at October 24, 2011 10:08 AM

@Dorothy Snarker - What a beautiful, wonderful song. That would be mine too.

Posted by: PerpetualIntern at October 24, 2011 10:36 AM

Disorder - Joy Division
OR
Debaser - Pixies.

As to Jay's suggestion of Lay Me Low, last year after the 'minor' Heart Attack I had, during the night, whilst hopped up on t'drugs, Lay Me Low was my soundtrack. Giggling in my bed on my own in a strange room was pretty funny...

Posted by: frank_247 at October 24, 2011 11:26 AM

The Woo I'm attending a choral concert tonight, and one of the songs is MLK by U2... and now I'm nervous...

Posted by: Patty O'Green at October 24, 2011 11:40 AM

Oh, Mother-Fuck Morrisey in the Eye with the broken neck of a jangly guitar. What a nightmare. He should have suffered half as much as his lyrics imply that he has -- then he'd only have to suffer five times more than Hilter will in hell to make amends for his impact on 80's youth culture.

My death song? AC/DC "For Those About to Rock" and may all the Emo's die a flaming molten death after being shit out by Zombies during the apocalypse.

Posted by: hater from siloam springs at October 24, 2011 12:07 PM

Having not died before, my guess is that it'll take me 10-15 minutes to go. We start whimsical, move to wistful, and end with heart-breakingly beautiful ...

Tonight is the Night I Fell Asleep at the Wheel - Barenaked Ladies
Windmills - Toad the Wet Sprocket
Washing of the Water - Peter Gabriel

Posted by: JH at October 24, 2011 12:17 PM

Slayer - Angel of Death

As far as my funeral, I plan to compose a series of depressing musical numbers to have played so that not only are they weeping at the beautiful sad music, but they are also reminded that they were written by me, increasing their depression from the loss of someone as great as I.

Just kidding. There will be a lot of metal, some classical as long as it is relatively upbeat. I want people to share good memories, not be all weepy. After my selections people will be able to make requests from my own playlist. There will be a small number of horrible songs on it that, if played, the person responsible will be forced to have their picture taken with my naked corpse. Two of these offenses and you have to be buried alive next to my coffin.

Posted by: Paultera at October 24, 2011 12:53 PM

Home - Depeche Mode

Posted by: Lynx at October 24, 2011 1:24 PM

Seinking Ships "We Will Drink Wine"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdwPub5PxU8

I've always been a fan of songs that can make my soul ache in the first few chords, and I think this one did it faster and brought more tears to my eyes for more reasons than any other song of it's type.

Death scene (I've given this a lot of thought, as my mom is a hospice nurse and I've been at a number of deathbeds)....I've always felt the most connected to the beach, so my perfect way to go would be after a day of swimming at my favorite childhood beach (Salisbury Beach on the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border). The sand isn't perfect, the shitty boardwalk is nearby, but it was where I spent summers with my whole family before my parents got divorced. After a day of swimming, body surfing, hunting for hermit crabs and shells, smearing on layer upon layer of coconut sunblock, drinking lemonade from the thermos, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with Cape Cod potato chips and nectarines, around three or four in the afternoon when the sun was setting and you dry off after one last dip, I'd pull on a sweatshirt over my bathing suit. Families walk back to their cars, seagulls eat the picnic leftovers on the sand, and although I haven't decided if I'd want to be alone or have my family around me, I would like to stretch out on the blanket, feet buried in the sand, feeling the beginnings of a sunburn on the end of my nose, and just close my eyes and never wake up. As I drift off and hear the waves and crying of the gulls, this song would be playing.

Take a listen.

Posted by: scorzi at October 24, 2011 1:31 PM

E'ry time we say goodbye by Annie Lennox
Say hello to heaven by Temple of the Dog
Summerland by Kings X

Posted by: Ms MoMo at October 24, 2011 2:33 PM

The Smiths, How Soon Is Now?

My go track to for just about everything actually, but pretty appropriate in this instance.

Posted by: Zombie Mrs Smith at October 24, 2011 4:13 PM

Mastodon's Blood and Thunder.

But I dig Paultera's choice too.

Posted by: TK at October 24, 2011 4:48 PM

I don't care if it's predictable..."Keep me in your heart" by Warren Zevon. That shit is poignant.

Posted by: Blank at October 24, 2011 4:59 PM

it would be love & rockets- sweet f.a. and if i hold on for another couple minutes something funny, monty python's dirty version of Always look on the bright side of life.

Posted by: norris at October 24, 2011 5:45 PM

Oooh...liking the Wailin' Jennys shout-outs! I'd be willing to hear "Prairie Town" on my deathbed & let those gorgeous harmonies send me out.

Posted by: budiwag at October 24, 2011 9:34 PM

Paint it Black - Rolling Stones
When the Ring the Golden Bells - Natalie Merchant
Where is my Mind? - Pixies

Posted by: DaveKan at October 24, 2011 11:01 PM

I went back to this comment diversion today and it means something more to me after this past week. My grandmother passed away with all of us around her. Her kidneys were failing and they kept her just sedated enough to not be in pain, but she could hear us. We stood around her bed in a circle and sang every hymn we could think of, googling the lyrics we didn't know on our phones and ushering her into death. As we sang the second verse of "Tis a Gift to be Simple", she died. The experience made me realize I don't care what song it is, as long as the ones I love are singing it.

Posted by: PerpetualIntern at November 11, 2011 3:37 PM

iubihbi

Posted by: Pablo Kimrey at November 22, 2011 3:33 AM