'You'll Never Walk Alone' replaces 'My Way' as the most popular funeral song

21 October 2021, 10:14

Gerry & The Pacemakers' classic is played at an estimated 9,500 funerals in the past year.

'My Way' has been knocked off the top of list of most popular songs to have played at a funeral.

Frank Sinatra's classic has been pushed down into second place by 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.

Research from Co-op Funeralcare found that Gerry & The Pacemakers 1963 hit has been played at an estimated 9,500 funerals over the past year.

Gerry & The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone [Official Video]

Since its release, the song has been adopted as an anthem by both Liverpool Football Club and Scotland's Celtic FC.

It was covered by Michael Ball, Sir Captain Tom Moore and the NHS Voices of Care Choir in April 2020 for charity as COVID-19 ripped through the country.

The song is a brand new entry in the top ten, and is joined by other newcomers 'The Best' by Tina Turner at number 4, 'The Chain' by Fleetwood Mac at number 7 and 'This Is Me' from The Greatest Showman soundtrack at number 10.

At number three is Eric Idle's 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' from The Life of Brian, which was sung by the Monty Python cast and attendees at Graham Chapman's funeral in 1989.

Graham Chapman's Memorial Service (Longer version)

Also in the top ten are 'Supermarket Flowers' by Ed Sheeran, 'Time To Say Goodbye' by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, Eva Cassidy's 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' and Vera Lynn's 'We’ll Meet Again'.

Hannah Ingram-Moore, daughter of Captain Sir Tom Moore and Co-founder of The Captain Tom Foundation, said: "My father loved the song 'You’ll Never Walk Alone' because, just like him, it was full of hope.

"Right up until his passing, his priority was always to make sure that no-one should feel alone or helpless no matter their age or life circumstance, and that’s one of the reasons he started to walk his laps of our garden last year."

You'll Never Walk Alone - Captain Tom Moore, Michael Ball & The NHS Voices of Care Choir

Funeral service manager at Co-op Funeralcare Pauline McAvoy added: "'You'll Never Walk Alone' really has been a stand-out song over the last year.

"Its sentiments around weathering the storm of life by coming together and supporting one another have really struck a chord with so many after the extraordinary events of the last eighteen months. It’s a beautiful melody which carries such deep meaning."

Frank Sinatra - My Way (Live At Madison Square Garden, New York City / 1974 / 2019 Edit)

Read more: Watch 25-year-old Elvis Presley sing duet with Frank Sinatra in incredible footage from 1960

The full top ten songs was as follows (last year's place in brackets):

1. You’ll Never Walk Alone – Gerry & The Pacemakers (NEW)
2. My Way – Frank Sinatra (1)
3. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life – Eric Idle for The Life of Brian (10)
4. The Best – Tina Turner (NEW)
5. Supermarket Flowers – Ed Sheeran (6)
6. Time to Say Goodbye – Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman (2)
7. The Chain – Fleetwood Mac (NEW)
8. Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Eva Cassidy (3)
9. We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn (9)
10. This is Me – Keala Settle for The Greatest Showman (NEW)

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

Less conventional songs reported to have been requested for funerals include 'WAP' by Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, 'Girl on Fire' by Alicia Keys, 'F*** Forever' by Babyshambles, 'Ha Ha You're Dead' by Green Day, and 'Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead' from The Wizard of Oz soundtrack.