Forest Lawn

(album: Tom Paxton 6 - 1970)

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 blow taps while the cannons roar
Let sixteen liveried employees pass out 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
And they have a heavenly choir and a military band there
Just put me in their care, and I'll find my comfort there
With sixteen planes and a last salute, dropping a cross in a parachute

I want to go simply when I go
And they'll give me a simple funeral there I know
With a hundred strolling strings
And topless dancers and golden wings
Oh, take me when I'm gone to Forest Lawn

Oh, come, come, come, come
Come to the church in the wild wood
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 done in brass, will stand in plastic grass
And weights and hidden springs will tip its hat to the mourners filing past

I want to go simply when I go
And they'll give me a simple funeral there I know
I'll sleep 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