"Funeral Blues" by W.H Auden (poetry reading)

The poem was not written about the death of a real person. None of Auden's lovers would fit chronologically. It's one of Twelve Songs. There was a previous five stanza version, part of "The Ascent of F6" which is still copyright.

This version was written as a cabaret song for the soprano Hedli Anderson to music by Benjamin Britten. The speaker is a woman. Like the rest of the twelve songs it was satire, not pathos.

The poem was used in Four Weddings and a Funeral which gave it public appeal and a significance that wasn't intended.

The funeral procession with the brass band is from Goderich, Ontario, from 1913 when five unknown sailors were buried. I doubt if they were actually playing a Blues.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Funeral
• Blues
• W.H
• Auden

[earthsongify]

see this one as a song by Nemo Shaw - just out - Stop all the clocks/funeral blues

[mojo4404]

Also read well by John Hannah.

[25547474]

amazing...

[92SJ]

Love this poem!

[withoutasong]

Auden was a phenomenal poet...the 70th anniversary of Sept 1st is coming up as well!