It's hard for me to write this kind of topic - I don't know how, I'll just try to get it across.
My very good friend, singer, songwriter, guitarist and poet Kaj, died on Friday after the chemo, fighting against cancer. He didn't make his 47th birthday wich would have been 28th of December.
Now it is my duty to find one adequate Dylan song to be played at the funeral, in the chappel.
Kaj was big fan of Dylan, like anyone on this board for the Stones. I am not that familiar with Bob's songs and only have 3 cd's.
The Best of Bob Dylan, Love & Theft and a live cd "Can you please tell me what I'm doing here?"
I have considered - Don't think twice, it's all right
Mr.Tamburine Man
I shall be released
If not for you
Forever young
listening to these songs makes me cry again - and I guess the people at the chapell too. But I must decide on one song.
Knockin' on heavens door is too much of a warhorse and sounds a bit cheesy, IMO.
"Oh sister" is in the right mood but the lyrics go the wrong way.
what do you think? maybe you know of a better suiting song. I'd appreciate your opinions.
If you want, you can listen to a song Kaj wrote. "House on the Hill" [s44.yousendit.com]
Thats Kaj on vocals & accoustic guitar, Holger on bass and myself on slide.
Holger also died in March this year only beeing 40 years old - and Kaj will join him at the same cemetary.
Oh, what a @#$%& year
it's another good bye to another good friend

take care of yourselves

Sorry to hear that.

I would recommend "Not dark Yet" from Time Out Of Mind.

If not For You would be really really nice. It's very simple, and the instruments are not overpowering, just sweet.

I love this line...

"if not for you my sky would fall, rain would gather too,
without your love, I'd be nowhere at all, I'd be lost if not for you"

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss.

Wasn't looking too good, but I was feeling real well.

Yes "Not Dark Yet" (what a song!!) or "Every Grain Of Sand".

of the songs you listed ... If Not for You will be a light gentle hand for the people.
thank you for the music. love and light to Kaj, and to you, Open G; and to everyone close to Kaj.

Considering the man's relative youth, "Forever Young" is the most ideal choice.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

Forever Young.



ROCKMAN

That was sad. I am sorry. I think "If Not For You" isnt right, because it not about loss, but love. Or maybe Im wrong. But "Not Dark Yet", "Foreever Young" or the original version of "Knocking On Heaven Door" are very good.

... just to clarify my feeling a little: thinking of Forever Young in this situation made me cry - and all i know of Kaj is Open-G's moving post and that piece of his music he posted for us. that's why i suggested If Not for You instead. it's a lighter hand to touch the people with. and yes, it's not about loss, but love - which is another kind of right.

Hi Erik,

I know what you mean about If Not For You being about love, not loss, but that's why I think it's better. The services are going to be sad enough without a song about someone dying. I think at my service I would prefer to have people think about me and and what I may have meant to them.

I agree that they are all appropriate though, any Dylan is great.

Anyway, just my two cents. Again, sorry for your loss, hang in there. Cindy

with sssoul Wrote:

"...why i suggested If Not for You instead. it's a
> lighter hand to touch the people with. and yes,
> it's not about loss, but love - which is another
> kind of right.


with sssoul, i was in the middle of typing my last post so I didn't see yours, but this is exactly what I meant, I just couldn't express it the way I wanted.

Wasn't looking too good, but I was feeling real well.

I think "Knocking On Heaven's Door" or "Forever Young".

sorry to hear that :-(

Its all over now baby blue (my personal choice)

-----------------------------------------------------
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

I would avoid "Not Dark Yet" unless the gatherers are made of very strong stuff.

"If Not For You" is an inspired choice.

"Forever Young" is another good choice, and there is a fast, jaunty version of it on Planet Waves, as well as a soaring, prayer-like version, if you'd like a different mood.

"Every Grain of Sand" could be the most wonderful, though it might appeal more to christians in particular at this event.

cc

Firstly, let me offer my deepest condolences to yourself, and of course, to Kaj's family and friends.

At my mum's funeral some four years back, we played the original Knockin' On Heaven's Door. It lasts for little under 3 minutes and has hymnn-like qualities in its arrangement. She died the day after her 84th birthday but was a massive Dylan fan.

I hope it's played at mine!

CindyC and with sssoul, you might be very right. Different opinions, but all of them are correct. "Its All Over Now, Baby Blue" is also appropiate, TeleK.

open-g:

Very sorry about your budd(ies). "Too Soon Gone."

"Every Grain of Sand" is a very powerful Dylan tune. It's on "Shot Of Love" or the "Biograph" collection.

Emmylou Harris did a stellar version on her "Wrecking Ball" album.

Best of luck.

I'd say that "It's All Over Now, BB" (though possibly my favorite dylan song) has a pretty harsh message for this occasion.

Though most recent dylan is grim or, at most, blackly humorous, you might think about "Mississippi":
But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free
I've got nothin' but affection for all those who've sailed with me

cc

Death is Not the End - another good one, outtake from Infidels, available on Down in the Groove cd

LOGIE's story reminded me of what happened at my mother's funeral.

She was a big fan of pop music, and would find a song she liked and play it over and over again. The day she died, we took all my mother's old 45's and made a tape to play at the funeral home as background music. No one really noticed too much, but when it was time for the final prayer, and everyone sat down, it got really quiet, and suddenly out comes "whooca chuck-a, whooca chuck-a" that old "Hooked on a Feeling Song". It was a really funny moment at one of the saddest times of my life, and totally my mother's sense of humor. I like to picture her up there laughing down at us.



Wasn't looking too good, but I was feeling real well.

Given your friend's age at 47, I'm thinking that he's not of the "Time Out of Mind" generation...

Three excellent and "obvious" suggestions have been made to this point, IMO:

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Forever Young

If Not for You

Of the three, I guess I favor "If Not for You"... Knockin' can be sort of a "dark" song and Forever Young is more of a "song to youth" I think...

A classic song with a somewhat similar feel to Knockin' but perhaps with a more upbeat feel would be "I Shall Be Released"... a very beautiful and appropriate song.

BUT here are a few "sleepers" that just might fit the bill perfectly. They are all from the CD "Blood on the Tracks", which given your friend's age, was probably one of his very favorite Dylan albums:

"Simple Twist of Fate"

"You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go"

"Shelter from the Storm"

They are all from an album that your friend probably listened to over and over, none is "too dark"... and they're great songs.

Lastly, I'd suggest two other songs to consider:

"Tomorrow is a Long Time" and the classic never-fail Dylan masterpiece:

"Blowin' in the Wind"

Peace.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."

I thank you all, for your warm and kind replies with lots of helpfull thoughts.
I will give it a break for now, listening to Dylan, because he has never hit me so hard as today.
I still have some time 'till next monday.
Also, I tend to believe that "If Not for You" will be a light and gentle hand indeed.
I don't want to knock anyone off their feet, wich Bob Dylan truly is able to.
The services are going to be sad enough - is a keyword, and all the thoughts of the people attending, will be with Kaj anyway.
so thanks, once again and keep them posts comming.

"I'll Remember You" from "Oh Mercy"

Erik_Snow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CindyC and with sssoul, you might be very right.
> Different opinions, but all of them are correct.
> "Its All Over Now, Baby Blue" is also appropiate,
> TeleK.


Baby Blue is a 'farewell' song for sure, but its not a song suitable for someone youre fond of.

Leonard Keringer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "I'll Remember You" from "Oh Mercy"


its from Empire Burlesque actually, but a nice choice

Gazza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Leonard Keringer Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > "I'll Remember You" from "Oh Mercy"
>
>
> its from Empire Burlesque actually, but a nice
> choice


thanks Gazza...better dust off my Dylan cds

very sorry to hear of your loss Open G.

i don't know if live versions would be appropriate at the service, but 2 of the popular suggestions (besides If Not For You) have incredible moving performances as dylan with the band at The Last Waltz; FY and ISBR. not that anyone attending will want to be moved any further than they already are by your friend's passing....

here's a list that may jog other posters' memories for other suggestions, with lyrics:

[orad.dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp]

hang in there, take care.

Open G I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. My pick would be "I'll Keep it With Mine," a gorgeous song Dylan wrote for Nico that can be found on "Biograph." One of the sweetest things the Bard ever did.

openg,

My thoughts are with you. Loss is difficult and acknowledging it appropriately is never easy. Just know that if your heart is in your choice, then you've made a very good choice.

I think you've heard a lot of good suggestions already. But if I may offer something else for your consideration, I'm inclined towards I Shall Be Released.

I won't go into the whys of this choice, I'll only wish you well in the days ahead.

Gazza Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Erik_Snow Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > CindyC and with sssoul, you might be very
> right.
> > Different opinions, but all of them are
> correct.
> > "Its All Over Now, Baby Blue" is also
> appropiate,
> > TeleK.
>
>
> Baby Blue is a 'farewell' song for sure, but its
> not a song suitable for someone youre fond of.


Yes, you are absolutley right. What was I thinking of?