Convert a Eulogy into Song Lyrics
It’s a rough time for anyone in life. Losing a loved one is hard, there’s no way around it. It sucks. I have been to more than my share of funerals, unfortunately. The one thing I always walk away with is who had the most poignant, loving, words to say about the person who passed. Those words aren’t your everyday talking points. The person is speaking them from the heart, in front of a crowd of people who loved him/her as much or more then you did. That’s why their words mean so much and are so memorable. Due to the fact that those words are so memorable, we often receive eulogies from our clients to produce in to a loving song. The outcome never ceases to amaze me. It’s very moving for a person to have a song written for them, posthumously maybe even more… because the person is gone and it effects loved ones in a more powerful way. When you express your deep emotion in song it resonates with people who hear it. Especially those who can relate to it by knowing the person and feeling the feelings you are trying to convey with your lyrics.
This blog will be a little bit longer than the normal blogs, because it’s important. Not that the others aren’t, but if you know how to write lyrics for your loved one who passed, the song can have an enormous effect on your family and friends in a positive, semi-therapeutic, way.
Let’s look at part of a eulogy from a person I know and love. Her father passed away suddenly and tragically. Her words are heartfelt and emotional. Take a look at an excerpt from the eulogy she gave:
My dad supported me through everything. From the time I tried to go underwater in the pool for the very first time, to learning to drive-- in his yard of course, to picking out a college, to getting married, to having children. He pushed me to be the best I could be and it is because of him that I am as strong and successful as I am. He truly was the wind beneath my wings.
His grandchildren were his life. They brought him smiles and laughter galore. He was able to continue being a kid when he was around them. For those of you who didn’t know, my dad ate dinner with us every night. I swore it was like having four boys at the table. When the conversation would go from appropriate to inappropriate, it was often Nonno who started it.
My dad lived fairly simply. Nothing fancy and nothing flashy--unless you count his robe/underwear combo he wore as appropriate outdoor attire for picking up sticks in the yard.
There was never a dull moment where my dad was concern.
I will miss you everyday
I will miss you stomping up my stairs
I will miss you slamming my doors
I will miss you giving my kids “junk”
I will miss you at my dinner table
I will miss all the crazy things you said and did.
I will miss it all.
Ciao Ciao Daddy-o
I love you!
Here’s the song I wrote from her eulogy. You’ll notice I used many of her own words. That’s how easy it can be to write your own lyrics, for your own song, from your own story (or someone else’s). You can find out more about how I to write lyrics in our blog Rhyming the Words and Songwriting Through Grief.
I Miss it All
Words by Tina P.
Arraigned by David Hawkins
Verse 1
Dad supported me through everything
Teaching me to swim and drive, he was king
From choosing a college and getting married
It was never a burden, the weight he carried
Dad encouraged me to be the best
and with his love I progressed
in to the successful woman I am today
He was my wings, I can honestly say
Chorus
I will miss you Daddy, everyday
Stomping up the stairs in a funny way
I will miss you a lot at dinner time
Saying “just relax, it will all be fine”
I miss all the crazy things said and done
I miss it all Daddy, I miss the fun
Verse 2
Happiness and grandkids, he adored
Bringing him smiles and laughter galore
He could be a kid again, once more
He loved to laugh and joke around
No doubt, the coolest Nonno in town
Chorus
I miss you Daddy, everyday
Stomping up the stairs in a funny way
I will miss you a lot at dinner time
Saying “just relax, it will all be fine”
I miss all the crazy things said and done
I miss it all Daddy, I miss the fun
Bridge
He lived a simple life, it wasn’t hard
He biggest worry were sticks in the yard
Shirt wide open not a care at all
He loved like no other and had a ball
Never a dull moment with my Dad
I miss him so much and I’m still sad
Chorus
I miss you Daddy, everyday
Stomping up the stairs in a funny way
I will miss you a lot at dinner time
Saying “just relax, it will all be fine”
I miss all the crazy things said and done
I miss it all Daddy, I miss the fun
Outro
I miss you Daddy, everyday
I miss you Daddy, everyday