As it turns out, funny funeral songs are actually a thing on the interwebs. And apparently enough of you search for “inappropriate funeral songs” that it calls for an entire article dedicated to the topic.
So… fine! We’ll give you what you want 🙂
In this post, we’ll oblige you with our 15 favorite funny funeral songs, from well-worn classics like Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” to Sarah Silverman’s infamous nursing home gig.
You asked for it.
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15 Most Inappropriate Funeral Songs
Here’s our top picks for hilarious (and highly inappropriate) funeral songs, in alphabetical order:
- Another One Bites the Dust by Queen
- Always Look On the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle
- Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead from The Wizard of Oz
- Dumb Ways to Die from Metro Train Melbourne
- Goodbye Earl by Dixie Chicks
- Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer by Elmo & Patsy
- Ha Ha You’re Dead by Green Day
- Not Crying by Flight of the Conchords
- It’s the Best Day Ever by Spongebob Squarepants
- Love Lifted Me by Jack Black
- One More Minute by Weird Al Yankovic
- Remains of the Day by Danny Elfman
- Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die by Willie Nelson
- She’s a Zombie Now by The Meteors
- You’re Gonna Die Soon by Sarah Silverman
Below you will find descriptions for each of these crazy songs, along with video and audio options for downloading. Enjoy!
1. Another One Bites the Dust by Queen (1980)
This award-winning song has not been played at funerals ever since its release in 1980, and that makes it a gem in our book. British rock band Queen sings about death in a way that makes you think they must be singing of anything other than death.
Ironically, “Another One Bites the Dust” has been used in CPR training (that’s right – to prevent people from biting the dust). At 110 beats per minute, the song apparently lines up perfectly with the number of chest compressions (100-120) recommended by cardiac experts.
2. Always Look On the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle (1979)
Hailing from the 1979 film Monty Python’s Life of Bryan comes this sacrilegious little diddy. “Always Look On the Bright Side of Life” (written and performed by Eric Idle) reeks of uncalled-for positivity where none should be found.
Like that one annoying co-worker at the office who never stops grinning and wants to chat at 7:30 on the dot each and every morning.
In any case, the message of this song is quite clear: even in the face of agonizing death, surely there’s still something to be stupidly happy about, right?
3. Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead (1939)
Talk about an inappropriate funeral song. I mean, this one is just plain awful.
If you really just couldn’t stand the lady who has passed away, and are practically being forced to attend her funeral, only then could we maybe understand why you’d want this song added to the memorial playlist.
In that respect (not that this song is respectful in any sense), “Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead“, from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, might bring you a little bit of joy as you remember the dearly departed… and rejoice that you no longer have to deal with her anymore.
Click here to for our list of much-more-appropriate funeral songs for Mom
4. Dumb Ways to Die by Tangerine Kitty (2012)
Metro Trains Melbourne released this surprisingly catchy tune in 2012, in an effort to raise awareness for railway safety. If it didn’t fulfill that cause, it at least showed people all the various ways they can avoid being safe.
“Dumb Ways to Die” is just what it sounds like… a kids’ style animation (although not necessarily okay for kids to watch) that’s just a tad more innocent than an episode of “Happy Tree Friends.”
So yeah, not funeral-appropriate, especially if the person really did die in a dumb way.
‘Cause it’s all fun and games ’til someone gets run over by a train.
5. Goodbye Earl by Dixie Chicks (1999)
For reasons I’ll never fully understand, some people (of a certain variety) love this track.
“Goodbye Earl” isn’t a sweet little love song dedicated to a faithful husband who’s sadly passed away. It’s a murder ballad sang by a trio of country music has-beens that somehow still finds its way to radio waves.
Pardon me if you actually like the Dixie Chicks, but say it ain’t so if you’re partial to this song. And if you are, well, this may be the most appropriately inappropriate song for your vile husband’s funeral.
Especially if you bumped him off.
6. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer by Elmo & Patsy (1979)
Funny funeral songs aren’t the easiest to come by, so we’ve done the hard work for you and dug this one out the dirt for another listen.
“Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” was released in 1979 by Elmo Shropshire and his wife Patsy, and ever since has been enjoyed by countless children at Christmastime the world over.
Even though is it a laugh, we definitely wouldn’t recommend playing this one at your Grandma’s funeral, especially if you actually loved her.
Oh, and you can save yourself the time of Googling “Did Grandma really die when a reindeer ran her over?” Because yes, she did. (In the song, at least.)
Related: 21 Best Funeral Songs for Grandma
7. Ha Ha You’re Dead by Green Day (2002)
“Ha Ha You’re Dead” by American punk rock band Green Day makes it to all the lists for inappropriate funeral songs; ours is no exception. When you take a listen it isn’t hard to figure out why.
This song is an ode to someone who was truly despised in life, so much so that their death is welcome with open arms and no tears whatsoever. Well, maybe happy tears.
Harsh. But just imagine playing this at a funeral… now that’s funny.
8. Not Crying by Flight of the Conchords (2007)
“Not Crying” by New Zealand duo Flight of the Conchords is my personal favorite out of this whole list. Like, I would have put it as song #1 if I didn’t have to alphabetize everything.
In this song (which was featured in an episode of their show and subsequently released on their album The Distant Future), Bret and Jermaine sing about shedding tears for someone they really care about, and trying to hide the fact by coming up with silly excuses for it.
No one will appreciate this song being played at a funeral. (So consider this a dare.)
9. It’s the Best Day Ever by Spongebob Squarepants (2004)
If you loved Spongebob Squarepants as a kid, you may be tempted to play this ridiculous song (featured on the series’ 80th episode in 2004) at the funeral for a loved one.
That, my friend, would be a highly inappropriate thing to do.
Not just because this song is way too cheerful even for cheerful people who aren’t at a funeral, but also because it’s just a really lame song. Like, terribly lame. Unless you’re five.
Don’t put everyone through that at a funeral. They’ll already be feeling awful as it is.
10. Love Lifted Me by Jack Black (2011)
You might be thinking, “Love Lifted Me isn’t an inappropriate funeral song!” Or maybe, “There’s not anything at all funny about this beautiful, classic hymn.”
The truth is you can only say that until you listen to Jack Black perform it. And here he is in all his glory, performing this song as part of his role as (real-life) murdering funeral director Bernie Tiede.
This old hymn, penned in 1912 by James Rowe, does have a wonderful message behind it and may be suitable as a celebration of life song. But for your everyday somber funerals, it may not be the best choice. Especially if you invite Jack Black to sing it.
If you’re into quirky, dry, and macabre humor, you’ll appreciate the Richard Linklater-directed 2011 film Bernie, starring Black alongside Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey.
11. One More Minute by Weird Al Yankovic (1985)
Don’t let your life pass you by before listening at least once to this inappropriate funeral song (aka masterpiece) by Weird Al.
Yankovic dropped “One More Minute” in 1985 as way to make fun of an ex-girlfriend who dumped him during the making of his album, Dare to Be Stupid.
Will he be sad the day she’s gone for good? For some reason we don’t think so.
12. Remains of the Day by Danny Elfman (2005)
Fans of Tim Burton know by heart all of the cinematic wonders featured in his films. This includes “Remains of the Day,” composed (and actually performed, too) by none other than Danny Elfman of “Edward Scissorhands” fame.
This gory song takes death and spins it on its bony head in the style of a New Orleans jazz rendition. A skeleton performer sings in honor of the lovely Corpse Bride, the central figure in the critically-acclaimed stop-motion animation released by Burton in 2005. Entertaining and just creepy enough to be a terrible choice for a funeral song.
13. Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die by Willie Nelson (2012)
Smoking isn’t cool, kids. So don’t take Grandpa seriously when he requests that you play “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die” at his funeral. And definitely don’t actually roll him up and smoke him.
Do take Willie Nelson seriously, though. Because this song is seriously great and absolutely deserves to play at Grandpa’s funeral. Maybe.
If you liked this song, check out 21 Funeral Songs for Grandpa
14. She’s a Zombie Now by The Meteors (1999)
Back when The Meteors where at least somewhat popular, they released “She’s a Zombie Now” from their 1999 album The Meteors Vs the World, Part I.
This song may or may not be about a love interest who’s died and only comes out at night to play, but in any case, we can say without a shadow of a doubt that you really shouldn’t be playing it at anyone’s funeral or memorial service.
But if you did, it would be pretty funny.
Related: 31 Morbid-But-Funny Funeral Jokes
15. You’re Gonna Die Soon by Sarah Silverman (2006)
This song is as tasteless as it gets. And this is the edited version.
All we can say is we don’t recommend playing it while visiting your grandparents… or attending their funeral.
More Terrible Funeral Songs
- Before the Devil Knows We’re Dead by Turnpike Troubadours
- Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen
- Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks (get it? Low places?)
- Highway to Hell by AC/DC
- I’m Gonna Miss Her by Brad Paisley
- Light My Fire by The Doors (especially if the person was/will be cremated!)
- The Price is Right theme song
- Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash (another one for cremation…)
- Stayin’ Alive by The Bee Gees
- Stranger Things theme (are they in the Upside-Down?)
- Thank God and Greyhound You’re Gone by Roy Clark
- Who’s Gonna Mow Your Grass? by Buck Owens
- Why Haven’t I Heard From You by Reba McEntire
- You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
Had enough of horrible – yet funny – funeral songs? Need something more authentic, more genuinely emotional?
Basically, do you need to cry right about now?
Head on over to The Most Popular Funeral Songs of All Time. We’ll take care of ya. (Seriously.)
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Aubrey is a lifelong writer who has served in the funeral industry since 2016. After graduating from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, she knew she wanted to continue to serve families through her writing, but didn’t know how.
Soon after, Aubrey experienced a “lightbulb” moment and started her eulogy writing business, Eulogies by Aubrey, in 2019.
Aubrey has written professionally since 2012, covering not only funeral-related topics and gift trends, but also for TV guide listings, as well as legal topics. She began writing for US Urns Online in 2019.
Aubrey’s work has been featured in Huffpost, Coming of Age Magazine, and 1800Flowers.com. She holds certifications in Cremation Arrangement (ICCFA) and Burial at Sea (NEBAS), and as of 2023, is a trained and certified birth and bereavement doula (SBD). Aubrey is currently studying toward her degree in Business Administration.
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life has actually hit the top five songs that people would LIKE to have sung at their funeral. It’s become such a pop classic simply because of the irony of the song. It’s hard to be offended by it after all these years. The British almost embrace the song as a alternative national anthem!
Knock on Wood by Otis and Carla
A New Face in Hell by The Fall