I have always been moved by Ed Sheeran’s song “Supermarket Flowers”. To me, it speaks to a celebration of a life that was well lived.  Yeah, it’s a little bit of a tear jerker, but I love the idea of something as seemingly ordinary as grocery store flowers having an emotional appeal to your love ones. 

I think it gets to me because it is such a common, shared experience. Most of us have bought those grocery store flowers. We don’t buy them a special occasion. They are usually an impulsive celebration of today. Just because they make us happy.

I know this song has become a popular funeral song, but I don’t think it’s because it’s sad. It’s popular because it makes us feel good. Not good to lose someone, but good that we can remember someone and celebrate a life that was lived well. A celebration of all the simple, everyday things that makes a life so special. 

It speaks to the idea that a memory of simple as those grocery store flowers will follow us years after those flowers are gone. That the mere memory of those flowers will remind us of that person, and all the everyday, simple moments we’ll miss about them.

The Immortality of the Supermarket Flowers Song

I’ve always liked the idea that immortality is living on by the ones you love thinking of you after you are gone. That are you never gone if you are never forgotten.  That something as simple as those grocery store flowers serves as a beautiful reminder of a lived and loved.

Supermarket Flowers

Song By Ed Sheeran

I took the supermarket flowers from the windowsill
I threw the day old tea from the cup
Packed up the photo album Matthew had made
Memories of a life that’s been loved
Took the get well soon cards and stuffed animals
Poured the old ginger beer down the sink
Dad always told me, “Don’t you cry when you’re down”
But mum, there’s a tear every time that I blink

Oh I’m in pieces, it’s tearing me up, but I know
A heart that’s broke is a heart that’s been loved

So I’ll sing Hallelujah
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
When I fell down you’d be there holding me up
Spread your wings as you go
And when God takes you back we’ll say Hallelujah
You’re home

Fluffed the pillows, made the beds, stacked the chairs up
Folded your nightgowns neatly in a case
John says he’d drive then put his hand on my cheek
And wiped a tear from the side of my face

I hope that I see the world as you did ’cause I know
A life with love is a life that’s been lived
So I’ll sing Hallelujah
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
When I fell down you’d be there holding me up
Spread your wings as you go
And when God takes you back we’ll say Hallelujah
You’re home

Hallelujah
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
You got to see the person I have become
Spread your wings and I know
That when God took you back he said Hallelujah
You’re home

Lyric Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Johnny Mcdaid / Edward Christopher Sheeran / Benjamin Joseph Levin
Supermarket Flowers lyrics © Please Don’t Forget To Pay Me Music, Spirit B-unique Polar Patrol, Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited