6 Familiar Tunes
with Original Lyrics by Joyce Mitchell
Links are to the printable Google Docs version
Don’t Be Cheap
“Tramp, Tramp, Tramp the Boys are Marching” by George F. Root (1820-1895). Also, the hymns “In Our Lovely Deseret” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children” use the same tune. This 1 min. story heralds the good news of funeral liberty.
So my loved one passed away and left me to find a way
To plan a Fun’ral and to put him in the ground
Everyone said “Don't you worry,
BUT [pause] there is a great big hurry.
We wouldn't want a smelly body round.”
CHORUS:
So they pressed:
Buy! Buy! Buy, a keep on Buying! There's nothing better you can do.
Will your loved one feel your love, in the heavens up above,
if your cheap about the funeral that I do?!
That day I met the man who'd my best interest in his hand’.
He showed me all the papers I must sign.
He told me not to cremate [pause],
for a symbol of hell that would make [pause],
But embalming nearly brings them back alive!
CHORUS:
Buy! Buy! Buy, a keep on Buying!
There's nothing better you can do.
Will your neighbor know you love, your loved one up above,
if you’re cheap about the funeral that you do?
Well, it all turned out ok cause I called my FCA
[pause, “That's the Funeral Consumers Alliance. It’s a non profit”]
They told me all that they knew I could do
Got the pine box he'd always wanTED [pause]
No embalming, so he, looked Dead [Pause],
And I got it all without being rude!
Final CHORUS
Make plans now.
It is surprising what your love can really do.
Remember it’s about the living, and you’re showing love by giving,
A fun’ral that is meaningful to you.
A fun-er-al that’s meaningful to you.
You Can!
Tune: Sweet Bye and Bye, as well as the tune: Preacher and the Slave by Joe Hill
Morticians, they had oversight
Tried to tell us what's wrong and what's right;
But when asked, 'How bout something for me?'
They did answer with voices so sweet:
CHORUS
You will stand__ here not there___
You will move to the chapel on cue
Sit and pray__, but first pay___,
You chip in, that’s all you need do.
"The mortician is skilled don’t you think?”
But I sense I do smell a slight stink.
I know the embalming's the pest!
to get us to buy all the rest.
All the Le___gislators they fight,
And they talk and they clap and they write,
Til they get a restriction on you,
And your bloods on the way to the loo.
But, one des___ignated would fight,
They’re assigned to do what you like,
You make them an agent for you,
And no family feuds will ensue.
Did you know you can care for your dead,
Make a plain pine box instead,
Keep the contents cold using ice,
And the meeting you hold will be nice
CHORUS
You can stand___ here or there____
Your pro__gram reminds you what to do
You’re not confused___ or abused____
In expressing your final adieu___
So I’ve brought the truth for you
There’s only a few supposed to’s
Plan ahead, write it down, make it known,
And your family will not need a loan.
CHORUS
You can stand___ here or there____
You’ll know what you really want to do.
It’s ok___ to have your way____
In expressing your final adieu___
Rebel Girl
Original tune and lyrics were written by the activist songwriter Joe Hill. This song was written the week before he was shot by a firing squad. He wrote it about Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. I started singing Rebel Girl about myself in my own funeral reform activism, rebelling against what my culture dictated a funeral has to be. Then I realized the real “Original Rebel Girl” of my generations’ Home Funeral movement is truly Lisa Carlson. So this song identifies her as my inspiration.
They Go Wild, Simply Wild Over Me
Lyrics written about real experiences of Utah consumer advocate Joyce Mitchell (Original tune by T-Bone Slim, 1920 sing his original lyrics at https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/t-bone-slim/the-popular-wobbly-chords-3875021)
Where Is The love
Tune by The Black Eyed Peas
What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
The whole country, is addicted to the drama of
Buyin expensive funer’ls that'll bring‘em trauma
When embalmin s’posed to be for preservation
It just “ups” the cost of presentation
A one-time display, just to make us say
“Hey they look okay.” But there’s another way!
Like if you want to show love for your own dead
Dry ice is way better to use instead
Cuz to hire out really separates
But when you take charge, you get to participate![
breathe]
Products are not what WE demonstrate.
That’s how The Funeral-Biz works & operates.
Ya know, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your dead and meditate.
Let your soul gravitate (to the love ya’ll)
F C
People mournin', people dyin'
Dm
Families hurt, you hear em cryin'
Bb
Can you practice what you preach
F
Do a fun-er-al that’s cheap
C
Father, Father, Father help us.
Dm
Send us guidance from above.
Bb F
'Cause people wanna have an experience,
expressing their love
C
Where is the love (The love)
Dm
Where is the love Bb
Where is the love, The love, the love
I know it ain't the same, as the old days
Licensed Providers make the world insane
So if love and peace is so strong
Why is money changin where it don't belong.
Chemical mixes pumped into loved ones
Limousines addin’ burdens in the long run.
So I asked myself where’s the pressure really from?
and I asked myself really what is goin' on
In this world that we’re livin' in people keep on givin' in
Makin' fast decisions, to escape humiliation.
Fake helpin' each other- denying thy brother-
Here’s what’s goin' on, And the reason I won’t hide;
Professional display, serves to feed into pride.
BUT when I care for my dead, then I feel good inside.
There’s the love, y'all,(Now I know)
Hear the truth, y'all,(Now I know)
Share the love. [pause]
F C
People mournin', people dyin'
Dm
Families hurt, you hear em cryin'
Bb
Can you practice what you preach
F
Do a fun-er-al that’s cheap
C
Father, Father, Father help us
Dm
Send us guidance from above
Bb F
‘Cause people wanna have an experience,
expressing their love
C
Expressing their love (Their love)
Dm
Expressing their love (Their love)
Bb F
Expressing their love, their love,..🡪
I understand
You feel the weight of a body on your “shoulder”.
But as you get older you gotta get bolder.
Most people only know bout getting rid of it.
Hurried-ness got ‘em goin’ in a wrong direction.
Bad information told by mortuaries
Profiteering images, causing sordid stories:
Bank-rupting families, buying so much service
Cookie-cutter funerals sold on purpose,
Yo', whatever happened to the value of community
Whatever happened to the beauty of home-fun-ery
Instead of spreading love we’ve spread commerciality
Lack of knowledge, leading choice away from unity.
That's the reason why, I’m daily showin, “How-to”
We gotta share the good news, all across the town
Every cheap funral, spreads the word about,
Funeral liberty, [pause for 2 beats] till love is found.
F C
People mournin', people dyin'
Dm
Families hurt, you hear em cryin'
Bb
Can you practice what you preach
F
Do a fun-er-al that’s cheap
F C
Funeral Consumers Alliance helps you
Dm
Gives you guidance what to do
Bb F
'Cause people wanna have an experience, -doin it too
C
There is the love (The love)
Dm
Share in the love (The love)
Bb F
Share in the love, the love, the love