"The Funeral" is a song by the American rock band Band of Horses, taken from their debut studio album, Everything All the Time (2006). The alternative rock song was written by the band members. The song was released as the debut single from the band and lead single from the album. A live version of the song appeared earlier on the band's self-titled EP, under the original name "Billion Day Funeral".
In August 2009, Pitchfork Media named "The Funeral" the 67th-greatest song of the 2000s.The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 100-51 Pitchfork Media August 19, 2009
Background
Singer Ben Bridwell said, "The basis of The Funeral was just really the start of me whining about my aversion to social occasions and holidays. The pressure of say New Year’s being the best party night of your life, or Christmas being this forced togetherness. I was quite the pessimist in those days when I wrote the song." Bridwell compared this dread to the feeling one gets before attending a funeral.
Music video The video for "The Funeral" was directed by Matt Lenski with additional footage by Willy Lenski."band-of-horses-the-funeral" mattlenski.com The video tells the story of a man whose dog has died. Saddened by his loss, the man drowns his sorrows in alcohol. He then drives under the influence and the end of the video suggests he crashes head-on into a delivery truck. The video shows a sign for the Galway Bay Bar in Chicago and the cars in the video are all 1970s models.
Track listing "The Funeral" - 5:21 (plays at 33 RPM) "The End's Not Near" - 3:45 (plays at 45 RPM)
Personnel Ben Bridwell - lead vocals, electric guitar Mat Brooke - electric and acoustic guitar, ebow Chris Early - bass Tim Meinig / Sera Cahoone - drums
Appearances in other media
Film Assassination of a High School President"Soundtracks for Assassination of a High School President" IMDb Boot Camp"Soundtracks for Boot Camp" IMDb Fully Flared"Lakai Fully Flared - Guy Mariano" YouTube - December 26, 2009 Love the Beast (Trailer)"Love the Beast Trailer" Arts Alliance America via YouTube - November 3, 2010 The Stepfather"Soundtracks for The Stepfather" IMDb 127 Hours (Trailer)"127 HOURS - Full Length Official Trailer HD" Fox Searchlight Pictures via YouTube - October 7, 2010 The Collector (Trailer)"The Collector (Trailer)" Lane Films Corp. via YouTube - November 30, 2010 Teenage Dirtbag (Trailer)"Teenage Dirtbag (Trailer)" Spy Filmz via YouTube - October 2, 2008 Battleship"Soundtracks for Battleship" IMDb Love and Honor"Love and Honor (2013) Soundtracks" IMDb In the Name Of"Soundtracks for In the Name Of" IMDb Let's Be Cops"Soundtracks for Let's Be Cops" IMDb Megan Leavey"Megan Leavey Soundtracks (2017)" IMDb
TV Criminal Minds (Season 2, episode 15: "Revelations")"Soundtracks for Criminal Minds - Revelations (2007)" IMDb FlashForward (Season 1, episode 22: "Future Shock")"Soundtracks for FlashForward Future Shock (2010)" IMDb Gossip Girl (Season 3, episode 22: "Last Tango, Then Paris" - Sung by Serena Ryder)"Last Tango, Then Paris - Songs" Tunefind Kyle XY (Season 2, episode 9: "Ghost In The Machine")"Soundtracks for Kyle XY Ghost in the Machine (2007)" IMDb Mercy (Season 1, episode 16 : "I'm Fine")"Music from Mercy - Season 1 - Episode 16 - Im Fine" Tunefind My Life as Liz (Season 1, episode 4: "Liz's Got Talent (Part 2)" - Sung by Liz Lee)"Liz Lee - The Funeral (Band Of Horses cover) HQ" YouTube Numb3rs (Season 4, episode 11: "Breaking Point")"Soundtracks for Numb3rs - Breaking Point (2008)" IMDb One Tree Hill (Season 4, episode 7: "All These Things That I've Done")"Soundtracks for One Tree Hill - All These Things That I've Done (2006)" IMDb Standoff (Season 1, episode 12: "No Strings")"Soundtracks for "Standoff" No Strings (2007)" IMDb How I Met Your Mother (Season 8, Episode 1: "Farhampton")"Music from How I Met Your Mother>Season 8>Farhampton" Tunefind The Night Shift (Season 1, Episode 2: "Second Chances") Stumptown (Season 1, Episode 15: "At All Costs: The Conrad Costas Chronicles") Tear Along the Dotted Line (Episode 6) La casa de papel (season 5, episode 9) Irreverent (Season 1, Episode 3: "Episode 3") The Best Years (Season 1, Episode 13: "Mommy Dearest")
Other Skate (2007 video game) Ford Edge (2008 television commercial) Danny MacAskill (YouTube video of bike trials stunts)"Stunt video reaches new heights" BBC News - April 21, 2009 Rock Band Network (Downloadable content) Madden NFL 18 (2017 video game)
Songs that sample "The Funeral" "The Prayer" by Kid Cudi "Comin' Up" by The Grouch & Eligh"New! The Grouch & Eligh – Comin Up ft. Mistah Fab (Band of Horses Sample)" pigeonsandplanes.com - April 19, 2009
Certifications
References
External links Music Video for The Funeral on YouTube