Seasons of Love – Performed by the cast of Rent

seasons of loveFive hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand moments, oh dear
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, a year in the life?

How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love

Seasons of love (love)
Seasons of love (love)

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand journeys to plan
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?

In truths that she learned
Or in times that he cried
In bridges he burned or the way that she died

It’s time now, to sing out
Though the story never ends
Let’s celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends

Remember the love
(Oh, you got to, you got to remember the love)
Remember the love
(You know that love is a gift from up above)
Remember the love
(Share love, give love, spread love)
Measure in love
(Measure, measure your life in love)

Seasons of love
Seasons of love
(Measure your life, measure your life in love)

Funeralsare more than just a poignant reminder of a life lost, or of our own impending mortality.  It is also a celebration of a life well-lived.  Hence, funeral songs need not to express the sorrow of one’s loss.  A good choice can highlight the happy memories we have shared with those who have passed on.

One such song is from the Broadway musical, Rent, entitled “Seasons of Love”.  Composed by Jonathan Larson for the said musical, it was intended to be performed as a song in Angel’s (one of the characters) funeral.  However, when Larson died the night before the preview opening of the musical, the cast sang it at the beginning to pay respects to the composer.

When the song became even more popular when the film adaptation came out in 2005, it was an obvious choice for funerals and memorial services for a very good reason.  It talks about how the value of one’s life is measured by the love, happiness and memories shared by the deceased, and the impact he or she has made to the lives of other people.  “Seasons of love” is therefore a great choice to play during funeral services, a slideshow presentation of the decedent’s photos in a memorial, or during an ash scattering service.