The song Ozzy Osbourne wants played at his funeral: “I definitely don’t want a happy song”
Throughout his iconic career, Ozzy Osbourne has constantly flirted with the notion of death within his art. Therefore, unsurprisingly, Osbourne has considered his own mortality, including the song which will play as he bids his final farewell.
In recent years, Osbourne’s health struggles have been well-documented. Although he’d prefer nothing more than to be on stage, unfortunately, his body cannot fulfil his mind’s wishes, meaning Osbourne is forced to stay home. While he’s ruled out hope of completing another tour, Osbourne still wants to return to the stage for a series of farewell shows before retiring.
His mobility issues began in 2003 following a quad bike accident and have worsened in recent years after undergoing four different surgeries on his spine. Furthermore, Osbourne has also had Parkinson’s disease for two decades.
Although Osbourne remains optimistic about the future, even if he can no longer tour, the thought of his funeral has crossed his mind. Regarding the musical choice for his grand goodbye, Osbourne wants a song played by the band that kickstarted his love affair with music.
Instead of choosing one of the songs in his arsenal that would be appropriate for his send-off, Osbourne wants to leave The Beatles in charge of musical activities. The rock icon’s relationship with the Fab Four dates back to his childhood in Birmingham. They single-handedly opened his eyes to a new dimension, and while countless acts have occupied his heart, their stranglehold on Osbourne is in a league of his own.
Like many of us, Osbourne’s life changed immeasurably with his first exposure to The Beatles. The moment is still ingrained in his mind, and the Black Sabbath singer remains grateful for the group instilling in him the belief that he can conquer his dreams.
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” Osbourne once reminisced to Goldmine. “I was walking around with a transistor radio on my shoulder. And ‘She Loves You ‘came on. And I don’t know, it just went, ‘Bang! And that’s what I want to do! Wouldn’t it be great?'”
As much as he adores each band member, John Lennon has always been his favourite Beatle, describing the bespectacled musician as “a poet” and “a rebel” who “had an incredible passion”.
The world was united in grief when Lennon was murdered outside his New York apartment block in 1980. Osbourne recalled discovering the devastating news to the BBC in 2010: “The world stopped for me. I can’t even describe how I felt. But the amount of joy and hope that he gave people was just remarkable.”
While many songs by The Beatles are fitting for funerals, and Osbourne adores their entire discography, when pressed, he chose ‘In My Life’.
During an interview with NME in 2016, he explained his choice: “I really need a few more years to think this over, but probably something from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or Revolver.” Notably, ‘In My Life’ appeared on Rubber Soul.
Osbourne added: “I definitely don’t want my fucking greatest hits album — I never ever play that thing, I’m fucking embarrassed about it. And I definitely don’t want a fucking happy song — I’m dead.”
Previously, when Osbourne once named his ten favourite songs by The Beatles, ‘In My Life’ didn’t get a mention. Instead, he placed ‘She Loves You’ in first position. However, ‘In My Life’ is undoubtedly a far more appropriate song for a funeral, and it would also ensure there wasn’t a single dry eye in the church.
‘In My Life’ also represents a pivotal moment in the history of The Beatles, as Lennon reached new heights with his songwriting. During an interview with David Sheff in 1980, Lennon reflected: “It was, I think, my first real major piece of work. Up till then it had all been sort of glib and throwaway. And that was the first time I consciously put my literary part of myself into the lyric. Inspired by Kenneth Allsop, the British journalist, and Bob Dylan.”
Hopefully, Osbourne’s curtain call is still many years away, but when the fateful occasion finally strikes, ‘In My Life’ will be a poignant way to celebrate a well-lived life.
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