Four Weddings and a Funeral - "Funeral Blues"

John Hannah, playing Matthew, reads WH Auden's poem "Funeral Blues." The poem was first published by Auden in 1936 and became famous after it was featured in this film.

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Funeral Blues
WH Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Four
• Weddings
• And
• Funeral
• Scene
• John
• Hannah
• Blues
• WH
• Auden
• Poetry

[PinkCat45]

I read this poem at my grand father's funeral... Today again, that's exactly what I feel... Nothing can heal that pain...

[bumblebee6074]

I cried. - love that poem - says exactly what im thinknig at the minute 

[earthsongify]

new song just out stop al the clocks/funeral blues by Nemo Shaw

[imuniquez]

1:42 minutes and it touched the bottom of my heart :*

[MadameOverTheRainbow]

AMAZING !

[spock101010]

I want this read out at my funeral. Preferably by someone with a Scottish accent. He reads it with such conviction and emotion, he is a brilliant actor and conveys the emotion perfectly. People who cannot accept the orientation of the character, and who cannot accept that this poem is for any lost loved ones are blind.

[Malibuthunder]

@Runol1st The point isn't the gender at all is it? If you can't see past that you're really very backwards. The point of this is the love and loss he felt, it's heart-wrenching irrespective of gender, and all the sadder that people like you feel you have the right to criticise. 

[msmarieh]

@Runol1st 'Someone' means a MAN or a WOMAN - so your reply does not make any sense, and 'I'll get" is very telling too, but hope is a good thing!!! Maybe you will get the love you need from a woman - who knows, miracles do happen!

[Runol1st]

@msmarieh

I don't need gay love.

I'll get the love i need from a woman.