Anita, the wife of my dad’s best friend, Rob, exited the stage at the end of Rob’s celebration of life service by saying, “And, finally, I’ll wish you off to his theme song.” The lights came on to reveal an auditorium of wet faces as the twinkling synth of “This Is The Day” by The The began its slow, ethereal build.
Rather than beginning the typical slow amble into the lobby, each shell-shocked loved one perked their ears and listened as the track gained its feet and ran. Simple drums layer the synth as it reaches full volume, joined shortly by a perfect melancholy accordion and a grounding bass.
The deep voice of lead singer Matthew Johnson then tells a story that is entirely familiar to each member of the audience: a narrative about grappling with change and an uncertainty of the future.
“Well, you didn’t wake up this morning ‘cause you didn’t go to bed / You were watching the white of your eyes turn red / The calendar on your wall is ticking the days off / You’ve been reading some old letters / You smile and think how much you’ve changed / All the money in the world couldn’t buy back those days.”
What I find beautiful about a celebration of life is that, for many, it is the climax of grief. It is a gathering of all those who love the deceased in sadness and remembrance; you are meant to sit together in the discomfort of sadness.
But, this song wouldn’t be Rob’s anthem without the elements of excitement and hopefulness. The chorus hits: “This is the day your life will surely change / This is the day when things fall into place.”
This song was perfect funeral music, not because it was somber, but because it was hopeful. After two hours of tears, the song tapped us on the shoulder and prodded our minds to begin to consider that this day could be the catalyst for serious positive change.
Each person exited that auditorium and went their separate ways, some flying back to a different state or even country, but each left with a vitality that can only come from grieving a loss of life, and the message of imminent and unhalting change: “This is the day your life will surely change.”
Whether you are grieving or not, each of us could use a little hope, and so I hope you listen to “This Is The Day” and feel a surge of vitality and optimism about the potential of everyday promising a new beginning.
