I was recently asked to suggest a wedding song, for the first dance at their sister’s wedding. Now this is rather difficult. As others in the room noted, EVERYONE is listening INTENTLY to EVERY word in the song. You can’t just play any old, favorite song. You can’t play a song that starts out sad and gets sweet in the end. You can’t play a song based on the title, for fuck’s sake! You can’t for instance play a song that says:
Well, you say that you’ll both be real happy
You forgot to tell your eyes
You’re like a bird in a cage
Watchin’ the flock fly on by
You’re like a student who’s on vacation
Just waitin’ for school to start
I don’t know what’s in it for you,
But it ain’t in your heart…You’re getting married
You’re getting married
You’re getting married–oh no…
“You’re Getting Married” by The Replacements
nor can you play a song that says:
Head under water
And they tell me to breathe easy for a while
The breathing gets harder, even I know thatYou made room for me, but it’s too soon to see
If I’m happy in your hands
I’m unusually hard to hold on toBlank stares at blank pages
No easy way to say this
You mean well, but you make this hard on me
“Love Song” by Sarah Bareilles
I mean what kind of love song is that?? You just can’t start your wedding dance to THOSE words, now can you? These kind of decisions take time and assistance from total strangers! I’m sure you now see my point, eh?
So here’s my picks. What would you pick, dear readers?
M. Chutney’s favorite wedding song (although not the one she sang to me at our wedding, bless her)
Wedding Song mp3 Tracy Chapman from Telling Tales….. buy it here
I’ve been having dreams and visions
In them you are always standing
Right beside me
I reach out for your hand
To see your arms extending
Outstretched towards meFor you I don the veil
By your light
Others pale by comparison
I place my faith in love
My fate in this communicationTo you I give my pledge
I honor all that’s good
In this life were living
To think not only of myself
But of the greater unionCan I get a witness
There is salvation and rapture for the lonely
Can I get a witness
Bless this day sacred and holy
Sacred and holyWith you I am revealed
All my shame all my faults and virtues
Behold body mind and spirit
Heart and soul devoted all to youCan I get a witness
Bless this day sacred and holy
Sacred and holy
and a few more to pick from as well…. (some blatantly stolen from a great blog, Music For Kids Who Can’t Read Good, who posted his wedding mix over the summer, it was lovely), listed alphabetically by artist:
“Funny Little Frog” Belle and Sebastian from The Life Pursuit, I’ll confess to not being a huge fan of B&S but this song is so sweet and well, that’s what weddings are for….. buy it here
“I Want You” Bob Dylan from Blonde on Blonde , as stated on the wedding mix linked to above, this is Dylan’s only non-cynical song and if you’re a Dylan fan and getting married, play this one for heaven’s sake!…. buy it here
First Day Of My Life mp3 Bright Eyes from I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning. Personally, I’d have this played at my wedding if I ever did it again, it’s very, very tear-inducing….. buy it here
Science of Love mp3 Built By Snow from Mega. Where did this come from?! I love it! Techno goodness, not for the faint of heart, perhaps too weird for a wedding, but hey… you never know!….. sorry, I couldn’t find a buy link for it
“Love And Some Verses” Iron & Wine from Our Endless Numbered Days…. buy it here
“Always Love” Nada Surf from The Weight Is A Gift, I listen to this sooooo often! It’s a real cheer up song, perhaps my mantra for 2009?…. buy it here
Real Love mp3 Regina Spector from Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. Kinda droopy but dare I say the word sweet again? Beatles fans, you gotta represent!….. buy it here
Wedding Dress mp3 Samamidon from All Is Well. Gorgeous Americana folk here….. buy it here
“Umbrellas” Sleeping At Last from Keep No Score…. sorry, no buy link
“Dress Looks Nice On You” Sufjan Stevens from Seven Swans yeah, it’s an obvious choice but this song really is quite beautiful….. buy it here
So, it’s an odd list, I’ll grant you that. But not knowing the couple at all, I went for variety 
Readers, sound in! What do you suggest?
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Grow Old Along With Me …. John Lennon
ooooh I had forgotten that one! there are loads of good oldies … is there a recent cover of it? hmmm… thanks Paul xoxo
Wifey and I didn’t plan to dance at all at our commitment ceremony but friends and family had other ideas so we ended up stumbling about to the “La La La” chorus fom Kylie’s “Can’t get you out of my head” sung by said f&f! Not a pretty sight but always makes me smile!
And thanks for making me put Bright Eyes on this morning – it’s been criminally ignored on my pod recently…
ooh, that Regina Spektor sort of sounds pretty sad until near the end, not the words of course, just the tone.
Lyrically, I reckon Bowie’s Absolute Beginners wouldn’t be a bad choice; Sebastian Kramer did a lovely gentle version.
like you, my mind went to unsuitable tunes, which might’ve seemed ok from the title or beginning… Julia Marcell’s Married to Life is one such.
My obvious choice would be ‘Will Never Marry’ by Morrissey. But more in the spirit of things would be John Prine’s ‘In Spite Of Ourselves’…
http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/prine-john/in-spite-of-ourselves-10897.html
‘Umbrellas’ is a beautiful song. Have never been able to figure out why it’s called that though, given that at no point are umbrellas ever mentioned.
And that Regina cover is a gorgeous one isn’t it? I have a version that she did for Triple J when she was last here in Oz on DVD. Just her and a piano in a big concert hall. It’s lovely.
oh Agnes, I’m honored that you stopped by! That Regina cover made me seek out more of her stuff, to be honest. Sometimes covers do that for me. Do come back dearie, nice to have you here xoxoxo
I’ve been reading for a little while now Tart, and have you all linked up over at my blog. Have just been too slack to comment before I think! Thank you for the kind words.
Oh, and covers do that for me as well. Sometimes we need to hear something familiar from an artist before we can bothered to check them out further I reckon! Regina is pretty wonderful. ‘Begin To Hope’ is a great album and is a little more accessible than some of her earlier stuff, which has a tendency to be a little on the quirky side.
Thanks for the suggestion! And you’re all linked up here now too, apologies for taking so damn long,
True story this – Matthew (aka Song By Toad) and Kate danced to ‘Better Off Without A Wife’ by Tom Waits which is a great idea if you can pull it off.
Myself and Mrs JC were quite traditional I’m ashamed to say.
I think something by the aptly named The Wedding Present has to be on the list….how about ‘Loveslave’ ??
Me and Mrs H had ‘Someone To Watch Over Me’ by George & Ira Gershwin in the version by Mr Francis Albert Sinatra.
There’s a someone that I’m longing to see
I hope that she
Turns out to be
Someone to watch over me.
Not a dry eye in the place.
*reaches for tissue even now* x
I’ve grown quite fond of Ms Spektor over the past 18 months and I do like that cover you posted.
Oh and to offer a more serious suggestion than TWP, I dont think you can go much wrong with the sublimely gorgeous ‘Lovesong’ by The Cure.
I think all those suggestions are really good! I did hear a very beautiful song (if not slightly religious – hence the name) but could be a good song – maybe too swaying and not enough turns but its called Angel Gabriel by an artist called Lamb.
This is probably exactly the sort of post you don’t want me commenting on
When Mrs H and I were married there were only four of us there (our choice) – myself (obviously), Mrs H (duh!) and the two witnesses. It was a Registry Office in Leith, Edinburgh and was very low key – exactly how we wanted it. Went for a meal afterwards and drank and ‘smoked’ a fair bit. So I’m going for:-
Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division or
How Beautiful You Are – The Cure
geesh, who knew you’d all come outta the woodwork for this one, ya romantic saps! lol
Sunshinekid, welcome! Thanks for stopping by, and I’m gonna look that song up even tho I’m allergic to religion. You’re too kind to suggest it xoxo
JC, darlin, The Cure is always welcome at any wedding as is TWP, I quite agree! I can just imagine what “traditional” song you danced to! Do tell, did you wear a kilt? Please fuel my fantasies, xoxoxo!
Davy, my sweet, Sinatra! Of course! You really are from another age, and I’d gladly join you no matter what decade you exist in xoxo
Highlander, I love your wedding! Joy Division, well, maybe lol xoxox
muuuahhhh to all of you, I think this post was the most comment inducing, thanks for sounding in on it
Hi Tart !!
I have a few covers of Lennon’s song ( which I would be more than happy to send you?!?!? you have my email of course) but we used the original song off of Milk and Honey. Everyone else here who listed songs ,, Wow ,, they are all fantastic!! And you can NEVER go wrong with some Sinatra!!
I’m just a couple of days behind on this, but we danced to Zeppelin’s “Thank You,” which is really an awesome song, and something I had had in mind since my high school days.
btw, we’re divorced now….
Awww Eric, what a bittersweet tale. And it is a really sweet song. Have you heard Chris Cornell’s acoustic version? Equally awesome. Thanks for adding to our list! Always good to hear from ya hun, xoxox
Paul, I’ve emailed ya
xoxox thanks!
If you’re SINGING a song, then this is both easy to sing and lyrically solid. The original verges on sappiness, though. For what it’s worth, then:
True Companion – Marc Cohn
Baby i’ve been searching like everybody else
Can’t say nothing different about myself
Sometimes i’m an angel
And sometimes i’m cruel
And when it comes to love
I’m just another fool
Yes, i’ll climb a mountain
I’m gonna swim the sea
There ain’t no act of god girl
Could keep you safe from me
My arms are reaching out
Out across this canyon
I’m asking you to be my true companion
True companion
True companion
So don’t you dare and try to walk away
I’ve got my heart set on our wedding day
I’ve got this vision of a girl in white
Made my decision that it’s you allright
And when i take your hand
I’ll watch my heart set sail
I’ll take my trembling fingers
And i’ll lift up your veil
Then i’ll take you home
And with wild abandon
Make love to you just like a true companion
You are my true companion
I got a true companion
True companion
When the years have done irreparable harm
I can see us walking slowly arm in arm
Just like the couple on the corner do
’cause girl i will always be in love with you
And when i look in your eyes
I’ll still see that spark
Until the shadows fall
Until the room grows dark
Then when i leave this earth
I’ll be with the angels standin’
I’ll be out there waiting for my true companion
Just for my true companion
True companion
True companion
Thanks so much for that! It’s gorgeous if sappy, and sometimes sappy is just what ya need at a wedding
And thanks for stopping by, do come over again, I love your blog xoxo!
The wife and I had three wedding songs:
Lene Lovich – It’s You, Only You (Mein Schmerz)
Echo & The Bunnymen – The Killing Moon
The Damned – Love Song
Me and the Mrs. had ‘F.E.A.R.’ by Ian Brown for our first dance: ‘For each a road for everyman a religion…fastastic expcectations amazing revelations…for everything a reason.’ On the first compilation CD I ever made her. next week we’ll have been together for four years…awww!
Andrew… only you two, and I say that in appreciation, of course.
Ed, Congrats! The four year mark is a fine and mellow time, enjoy it hun xoxo
Ha! Funny how the pressure mounts eh? Thanks for stopping by and please do come again hun! xoxox
Isn’t that Regina cover gorgeous… *sigh… oh Absolute Beginners is such a great tune! but yes, like you, I trend towards the really inappropriate ones … how typical of us, darling! xoxoxo
Ooops, Rol! Apparently wordpress didn’t like that you put a link in your comment, I’ll try and fix that. That Morrissey tune DID come to mind
But do you honestly mean to tell me that you’d dance to the opening words: “She don’t like her eggs all runny”? With a straight face? Good God man!