Stop All The Clocks Song Joins The List Of Humanist Funeral Songs

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W.H. Auden’s poignant grief poem, "Stop All The Clocks" aka "Funeral Blues" has been set to music, by emerging Scots-born singer songwriter, Nemo Shaw. This new song can be heard at the "Songs of Grief and Loss" website.

London, United Kingdom., April 27, 2012 - (PressReleasePoint) - In an age of secularism, Green, humanist, and even DIY funeral services are all growing in popularity, according to “UK Funerals On-line”, U.S Green company “Treehugger” and other funeral-related organizations. These alternative funeral services are positively described by The British Humanist Association, (BHA) as ‘non-religious’ rather than ‘anti-religious’.

“Stop All The Clocks Song” is proving to be an all-rounder, judging from the initial response, from believers and non-believers alike. But this new song is mainly a valuable addition to the smaller, existing repertoire of funeral songs for humanists, atheists and agnostics. W.H. Auden is regarded by many as one of the greatest writers of the 20^th century. His poem is incomparable in its raw portrayal of human love and loss. It is not surprising therefore that Vanessa Ashbee, ‘Ceremonies Assistant’ at the BHA, greeted the news of this song with excitement saying, “… very interesting information about the composition”, before forwarding it to the BHA choir. Listen to the track here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7fsibfbdV8  

Humanists include notable figures such as Einstein, Bertrand Russell, Albert Schweitzer, Carl Rogers, as well as Richard Dawkins, Sir Terry Pratchett, Stephen Fry and many others. "The humanist view of life is progressive and optimistic, in awe of human potential”, says Polly Toynbee, President of the BHA, and a columnist for the ‘The Guardian’ newspaper. The BHA website describes the humanist way of life as “striving to live life to the full while adhering to the Golden Rule, with an attitude of tolerance and altruism.” Humanist philosophy is based, among other things, on the view that human beings can live ethical and fulfilling lives without religious beliefs. “Rights, equality and respect are for people, not religions or beliefs. Humanism for me is holding nothing sacred but the human being”, says human rights activist, Maryam Namazie. And what can be more sacred than the profound love shared between two people? Auden’s classic poem manages to express the inexpressible feelings of the loss of a loved one. The award-winning American poet, Kevin Young said “It’s that ability to express a feeling like the one that arrives quickly after the loss of a loved one which poems like Auden’s wield.”      
 
On February of this year, at Harvard University, Stephen Fry, well-known for supporting humanism, was awarded ‘The Annual Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism’. This was presented on behalf of the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard and the American Humanist Association (AHA).  “If you assume, there’s no afterlife,” said Stephen Fry, actor, author, comedian and TV presenter, “you’ll likely have a fuller, more interesting life.”  According to the AHA, “truth, love and compassion are the values spoken of at humanist funerals, as the life of the deceased is celebrated in a personal and honest way, without reference to God, the supernatural or the afterlife”. “Stop all the Clocks Song” is a celebration of life, as well as a truthful depiction of grief, and as such, it is perfectly tailored to humanist funerals.   
  
“This works! It’s a great song”, commented Pat McNees of ‘Comfort Dyng’, Maryland, USA. The legendary words of the song are delivered in a soft and delicate timbre that does justice to one of the best love poems ever written. "The composition is intentionally simple and gentle, to counterbalance the impact of Auden’s powerful lyrics and evocative imagery,” explained Ann Lewiss. She continued: “his uncomplicated musical arrangement leaves space for listeners to feel whatever emotions may arise.” The melody has a soothing lullaby quality to it, as well as an endearing Scottish lilt, reminiscent of John Hannah in the 1994 film, “Four Weddings and a Funeral”. “Nemo Shaw’s rendition is totally in keeping with what I would imagine. It reminds me of the poem exactly as it was read in the film, accent and all. I love it, and I think people will love it, too,” said an enthusiastic Heather Oosthuizen of ‘Funeral Guide’ in South Africa.

Already, a number of people have approached “Songs of Grief and Loss”, seeking permission to use the song and video, at funerals and memorial services in different parts of the world. The simple, yet artistic, video seems to work. It invites viewers to journey alongside a solitary figure trudging through heavy snowfall, until eventually the figure disappears from view. In this context, the figure represents the bereaved, as well as the loved one who has died.  

News of this song has received favourable coverage from international publications, as well as from humanist organizations, funeral and other related industry members. Here is a sample of comments from the UK to New Zealand: "What an amazing performance and video - I was truly moved", commented Dr Jim Walsh, CEO at Conway Hall, which is described as 'a landmark of London's independent intellectual, political and cultural life'. Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University, and author of the New York Times Bestselling book, 'Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe', responded with: "A very pretty Humanist song!" “A wonderful addition to funeral songs”, came from Heather at ‘Funeral Guide’, S.A; “I take a number of funerals a year and I think this song will become very popular, and I will be suggesting it as a possibility to the families in the future”, remarked E. Britt. “What a fantastic song. We would like to purchase this song and use it at our funerals”, from funeral director, Mark Baker in New Zealand. 
 
Timing is all important to the success of a product, and it appears that “Stop All The Clocks” has been ‘begging for a tune’, so to speak, for some time. Heather Oosthuizen explained why the poem needed to be put to music for a long time: “The words are so moving, and it is a familiar poem which is also associated with great loss. Well chosen music often moves people to tears at funerals, and that is the best thing one can do at funerals.”
 
Ann Lewiss of ‘Songs of Grief and Loss’ said: “The response has been very positive. It looks like we will need to find a recording company in order to efficiently market and distribute this song across the globe.”  
 
To hear, download, comment, visit: www.songsofgriefandloss.org  
                                                                                                    
With thanks to Curtis Brown, Ltd, for granting permission to use “Stop All The Clocks” by W.H. Auden.
 
Ann Lewiss
Marketing at “Songs of Grief and Loss”