: Set against a 1970s aesthetic, the video features period-accurate cars and a shot of the Galway Bay Bar in Chicago. Critical and Cultural Impact
As the lead single of their debut album, Everything All the Time, “The Funeral” was an appropriate introduction to Band of Horses, Paste Magazine Band of Horses - The Funeral [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
: Bridwell wrote the song as a "whining" commentary on his dread of social obligations and holidays like Christmas or New Year's Eve. He likened the pressure of "forced togetherness" and the need to pretend to be excited to the heavy feeling of attending a funeral. : Set against a 1970s aesthetic, the video
Directed by , the official video takes a more literal—and tragic—narrative approach than the lyrics themselves. Directed by , the official video takes a
: The video concludes with the man driving under the influence and appearing to crash head-on into a delivery truck, mirroring the song's explosive musical shift.
: It follows a man mourning the death of his dog. Overwhelmed by grief, he attempts to drown his sorrows in alcohol.
: Its "ambiguous relatability" has made it a staple in pop culture, appearing in everything from military films to the TV series How I Met Your Mother and the video game Skate .