Forest Lawn lyrics

Song information

Artist: John Denver
Album: Evening With John Denver

Lyrics

Oh lay me down in forest lawn in a silver casket
Put golden flowers over my head in a silver basket
Let the drum and bugle corps play taps while cannons roar
And sixteen liveried employees sell souvenirs from the funeral store

I want to go simply when I go
They'll give me a simple funeral there I know
With a casket lined in fleece
And fireworks spelling out "rest in peace."
Oh take me when I'm gone to forest lawn

Oh lay me down in forest lawn, they understand there
They have a heavenly choir and a military band there
Just put me in their care, I'll find my comfort there
With sixteen planes in a last salute they'll drop a cross in a parachute

I want to go simply when I go
They'll give me a simple funeral there I know:
With a hundred strolling strings
And topless dancers with golden wings!
Oh take me when I'm gone to forest lawn

Oh, come, come, come, come
Come to the church in the wildwood
Kindly leave a contribution in the pail
Be as simple and as trusting as a child would
And we'll sell you the church in the dale

To find a simple resting place is my desire;
To lay me down with a smiling face comes a little bit higher
My likeness cast in brass will stand in plastic grass
While hidden weights and springs tip its hat to the mourners filing past!

I want to go simply when I go
They'll give me a simple funeral there I know
I'll lie beneath the sand
With piped in tapes of billy graham
Oh take me when I'm gone to forest lawn

Rock of ages, cleft for me
For a slightly higher fee!

Oh take me when I'm gone to forest lawn!