FOREST LAWN

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,
Let sixteen liveried employees sell souvenirs from the fun’ral store. 
I want to go simply when I go, they’ll give me a simple fun’ral 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 across in a parachute.
I want to go simply when I go.  They’ll give me a simple fun’ral 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 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 cast in brass will stand in plastic grass
While hidden weights and springs tip it’s hat to the mourners filing past. 
I want to go simply when I go, they’ll give me a simple fun’ral 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.

1970 – Tom Paxton – Performed by John Denver – Album: Take Me to Tomorrow & An Evening With John Denver