“What a wonderful world” – Louis Armstrong

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They’re really saying I love you.

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more than I’ll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

Experiencing the loss of a loved one can be a sad and traumatic event.  But remembering those who passed on doesn’t have to take on a somber tone.

You can write funeral poems or an interesting eulogy about the funny anecdotes and memories left behind by the deceased loved one.  Or, you can dedicate a happy song to lighten up the mood during the funeral.

One such song is Louie Armstrong’s “What a wonderful world”.  Released as a single in 1967, the song was intended to “lighten up the mood” during the racially and politically charged climate in the United States in this decade.  The images of blue skies, red roses and babies invoke a feeling of hope and optimism, despite the situation.

While you wouldn’t usually associate this happy and blissful song with funerals and cremation urns, it can offer some consolation to the bereaved.  It can also remind them that there is so much beauty in life that they should appreciate while they’re still living.

So if you’re looking for a song that’s funeral-appropriate without being dreary and gloomy, “What a wonderful world” is a great choice.  It’s a good song which will remind everyone that there will always be a rainbow after the rain.