Play Me Out, Sam

I found out on Tuesday that my stepbrother had died, Modern Philosophers, and it’s led to a complicated week.

Now that Friday is finally here, my thoughts are still a jumbled mess and sorting them out seems impossible.

I hope the quiet and solitude of the weekend allows me some time to finally come to terms with all the Deep Thoughts swimming around in my head.

I thought the Friday Night Think Tank would be the perfect place to get me started on my quest to make sense of everything.

With that in mind, I’ve selected a topic that might begin the healing process.  Sorry if it’s a little morbid, but it’s what’s on my mind at the moment.

This week’s topic: What song do you want played at your funeral?

Since we likely won’t get a chance to personally say goodbye to everyone when we die, the song we choose for our funeral is probably the best way to leave a parting message for those who cared about us.

I’ve never thought about this before, but after writing a post earlier in the week about how my stepbrother introduced me to Bruce Springsteen, music has been on my mind.

Once I settled on this as our Think Tank topic, I decided to have some fun with it.  After all, we only die once.

Now I know for sure that I want The Imperial March from Star Wars played at the beginning of the ceremony.  I can’t remember if they carry the casket down the aisle to the altar at the start of a funeral, but I want that done at mine as the music every Star Wars fan associates with Darth Vader blasts through the church.

I’m already dead, so why not go out like a bad ass?  From that moment on, every time someone at my funeral watches Star Wars, they will remember me.  I can’t think of a more fitting tribute for this Star Wars geek.

Of course, it might seem inappropriate to some, but I’ve never been big on going to church and God can count it as a victory that I’m even agreeing to a funeral.  The least everyone can do is look the other way at my having a little fun during my final visit.

While the Imperial March is there more to lighten the mood and remind those I’ve left behind that I was a bit of a rebel and an oddball, I do want a more fitting song played later in the ceremony.

Whenever it gets really somber and it’s obvious that I’m not going to pop up out of the casket and tell everyone it’s been a cruel hoax, I’d like them to play my favorite Bruce Springsteen song.  Thunder Road is about leaving an unfulfilling life behind and chasing after your dreams.

I’d say that’s the perfect song for my final farewell to the world.

I’m pretty sure that Bruce won’t be available to perform live, so perhaps someone can just pop my Born To Run CD in a boom box and then hold it high above his head, Lloyd Dobler style.

Might as well give Say Anything a shout out, too, as it is a great flick and a personal fave.

When the mass is over and they are carrying my casket down the aisle to the awaiting hearse, I want the Star Wars Theme blasted loud enough to be heard by those mourning my death in a galaxy far, far away.

In case I never put these wishes down in an official legal document, I need at least one of you to bring this post to the attention of whoever plans my funeral.

If you could make sure that these songs are played at my last hurrah, I would be forever grateful, Modern Philosophers.  Now tell me what song you’d like played at your funeral, and I’ll do my best to make sure it happens…

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