You’ll Never Walk Alone holds head high at funerals

Among more controversial requests were ‘WAP’ by Cardi B and ‘Ding-dong! The Witch is Dead’

THE song You’ll Never Walk Alone has become the most played music at British funerals after gaining popularity during the pandemic.

The track from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel – which became a 1960s hit for Liverpool band Gerry and the Pacemakers – was number one in Co-op Funeralcare’s annual music chart of the most popular farewell songs, after not even making the top 10 in the previous year.

The annual music chart data revealed that the song – best known these days as the anthem for Liverpool FC – was played at an estimated 9,500 funerals in the year from August last year.

The popular ballad was covered by Captain Sir Tom Moore, Michael Ball and the NHS Voices of Care Choir last April to raise money for charity. It was also played at Captain Tom’s own funeral in February.

The service for the 100-year-old, who raised almost £33 million for NHS charities by walking laps of his garden during the first lockdown, opened with his rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Captain Tom died after contracting Covid-19 and pneumonia. The Queen was among the thousands to pay tribute to the man dubbed a “Great British hero”.

The historical music chart, which was launched in 2002, has only seen two other years – 2002 and 2014 – where Frank Sinatra’s My Way did not take the top spot.

In another shift, the top 10 features a number of upbeat new entries, including Tina Turner’s Simply the Best at No 4 and Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain at No 7.

This is Me from the hit movie The Greatest Showman has also entered the chart for the first time at No 10, which suggests that melancholic songs at funerals may be falling out of favour.

Among more controversial requests received by Co-op Funeralcare were

WAP by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion, Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys and Ding-dong! The Witch is Dead from the film The Wizard of Oz. Potentially offensive songs are often refused by a thirdparty, such as the chosen funeral venue or person ordaining the funeral.

Co-op Funeralcare did not hold its music chart last year after Covid-19 restrictions prohibited large funeral services with music during much of the year.