Song to be read (not sung) at a wedding?

May 11, 2011 8:10 AM

Looking for recommendations for a song to be read (not sung) at a wedding.

I'm getting married, and I'd like to choose a song for my mother to read. She's a big music fan, so that's why I'm focused on a song lyric rather than a poem. The problem is, although there are many songs I like, I don't have a good sense of what would make something good to read aloud. Please help!

Essentials:
1. non-religious
2. non-hetero-centric (my partner and I are both ladies)

Ideally I'd like something not too schmoopy and maybe a bit funny, but not something super sarcastic like "Love Stinks."

Also, if you've done this, was there anything in particular you did to make the lyrics easier to read aloud? What about songs where there's a lot of repetition? Did you just have the chorus once at the end, or repeated throughout? What other things should I be considering?

posted by marginaliana to Writing & Language (13 answers total)

Congratulations!

what about Willie Nelson's Hands on the Wheels (take out the verse about the man and the boy, and add back the letters necessary to make whole words). Not funny, but I also think not schmoopy, and also no other mention of heteroness.

At a time when the world seems to be spinnin' hopelessly out of control,
There's deceivers an' believers an' old in-betweeners,
That seem to have no place to go.
Well, it's the same old song, it's right an' it's wrong,
An' livin' is just somethin' that I do.
An' with no place to hide, I looked in your eyes,
An' I found myself in you.

I looked to the stars, tried all of the bars.
An' I've nearly gone up in smoke.
Now my hand's on the wheel, I've something that's real,
An' I feel like I'm goin' home.

An' in the shade of an oak down by the river,
Sit an old man an' a boy,
Settin' sail, spinnin' tales an' fishin' for whales,
With a lady they both enjoy.


Well, it's the same damn tune, it's the man in the moon.
It's the way that I feel about you.
An' with no place to hide, I looked in your eyes,
An' I found myself in you.

An' I looked to the stars, tried all of the bars.
An' I've nearly gone up in smoke.
Now my hand's on the wheel, I've something that's real,
An' I feel like I'm goin' home.
posted by dpx.mfx at 8:17 AM on May 11, 2011

I would recommend looking at some of Stephen Sondheim's songs. They're funny, blunt and heartfelt. While they are a bit hetero-centric, Sondheim himself is gay and they're all from Broadway musicals, so there's a lot of winking and nodding going on.

Personally, I love "Being Alive," it's such a moving song even though the lyrics are somewhat of a downer.

A quick browse through his lyrics turned up the possibly promising "You Must Meet My Wife."

Congratulations!
posted by adamdrici at 8:23 AM on May 11, 2011

Take All the Sky You Need is a great song by Ellis Paul about letting your partner be who they are.

You turn a blue eye to me and you look right through me
You said define what you think freedom means... if you want freedom
We can wake up this lullaby town
Burn through every red light we found
Lift a dust cloud
Break the speed of sound...
you could break free

[chorus]
If you want to run I'll pack my suitcase
If you want to stay I'll make a front door key
And if you need space... to fly... free
Take all the sky you need

I stand on the rooftops; I look down on my story
And it swallows me
Beyond the horizon, the taillights, the glories,
Will you follow me?
(Freedom) I need to know who I am
(Freedom) I'm like a moth in your hand
(Sweet freedom) do I fly or stand?
Or fall on my knees?

[chorus]
If you want to run I'll pack my suitcase
If you want to stay I'll make a front door key
And if you need space... to fly... free
Take all the sky you need
posted by The Deej at 8:29 AM on May 11, 2011

A bit funny (without being cynical), not too schmoopy, can be read (rather than sung) with a straight face: The Book of Love by the Magnetic Fields. It's become a bit of a wedding standard over the past few years, I think.
posted by caek at 8:30 AM on May 11, 2011

One more: First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes might be appropriate

This is the first day of my life
I swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain
Suddenly everything changed
They're spreadin' blankets on the beach

Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
I don't know where I am
I don't know where I've been
But I know where I want to go
So I thought I'd let you know
That these things take forever
I especially am slow
But I realized that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home

I remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning
And I thought it was strange
You said everything changed
You felt as if you just woke up
And you said,
This is the first day of my life,
I'm glad I didn't die before I met you
But now I don't care I could go anywhere with you
And I'd probably be happy.

So if you wanna be with me
With these things there's no telling
We'll just have to wait and see
But I'd rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery

Besides maybe this time it's different
I mean I really think you like me...
posted by The Deej at 8:32 AM on May 11, 2011

Melissa Eteheridge's Feels Like Home

There's more than I imagined
deep inside my heart
Emotions that I never knew
and this is just the start

So many things i've been missing
not watching but
that was all in the past

Now I realize
there's so much more to learn
I'm ready for the world
not scared of letting go

Now I realize
there's so much more to feel
and my heart knows it's real

The part of me so long forgotten is calling
and this feels like home,
it feels just like home.

Right from the start been friends forever
Somehow we're meant to be together
I feel like you've shown me how to find my way home.

Or, short but sweet, It's a Simple Love

It's a simple love
That holds us together
It's a simple truth
That sets us free
There's a place we're bound
And they call it forever
It's a simple love
Between you and me.
posted by misha at 8:38 AM on May 11, 2011

Magnetic Fields' "The Book of Love"?

Lyrics:

The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts and figures
And instructions for dancing but

I... I love it when you read to me and
You... You can read me anything

The book of love has music in it
In fact that's where music comes from
Some of it is just transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb but

I... I love it when you sing to me and
You... You can sing me anything

The book of love is long and boring
And written very long ago
It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
And things we're all too young to know but

I... I love it when you give me things and
You... You ought to give me wedding rings
I... I love it when you give me things and
You... You ought to give me wedding rings
posted by rmd1023 at 8:51 AM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]

2nd'ing the Book of Love. We had it read out by the celebrant at our wedding and it worked a treat. We also had Thank You by Led Zeppelin.

We only chose two verses and one chorus of each song to make it a bit more manageable time wise.

Congratulations!
posted by wingless_angel at 10:24 AM on May 11, 2011

Kathy's Song by Paul Simon. It is his best love song.
posted by Sheppagus at 10:48 AM on May 11, 2011

My first thought upon reading this question was Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me To The End Of Love".
posted by Vervain at 11:02 AM on May 11, 2011

The answer, as always, is a Bob Dylan song. Probably "Forever Young" though, rather than "Lay, Lady, Lay".
posted by joannemullen at 3:16 PM on May 11, 2011

I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
Forever by Ben Harper (though I should note it's not remotely funny in any way)
The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson seems almost perfect! (with the smallish exception of the mention of Rogaine - although women's hair does thin too!)
posted by jitterbug perfume at 6:31 PM on May 11, 2011

I've been telling my wife that this song would make a good wedding reading. It's really sweet without being schmaltzy. I like that it's very down to earth; no metaphors or similes, just the little things that love is about. You should cut it down somewhat. Reduce the chorus and maybe skip some of them.


Ain't that Love by ray charles

Now, baby when you sigh
I wanna sigh with you
When you cry
I wanna cry some, too

Now, ain't that love
Oh, ain't that love that I feel
In my heart for you

When your friends
Turn their back on you
I'll be here
Just to see you through

Now, ain't that love
Ain't that love
Ain't that love, ooohhh now
Ain't that love
That I feel in my heart for you

Now when you walk
I wanna walk with you
When you talk
Wanna talk some, too

Now, ain't that love
Oh, ain't that love that I feel
In my heart for you

If you ever
Ever need a friend
I'll be with you
Yes, until the end

Now, ain't that love
Ain't that love
Don't you know, baby don't you know, I
Ain't that love, baby that I feel
In my heart for you


Baby, won't you let me hold your hand
I want to squeeze you as tight as I can
Baby, don't you need my by your side
To protect you and be your guide
Baby, I'm so in love with you
I'd do anything you tell me to

Now, ain't that love
Ain't that love
C'mon now, ain't that love, now
Ain't that love, baby that I feel
In my heart for you
Oh, that I feel in my heart for you
Oh, that I feel in my heart for you
Oh, that I feel in my heart for you
Oh!
posted by jefftang at 6:51 PM on May 11, 2011