The Swan Song Project

13/06/2026

🎵 Become a Friend of The Swan Song Project 🎵

For as little as £5 a month, you can help someone facing the end of life create a lasting legacy for the people they love.

Every Swan Song we help to write captures memories, celebrates lives, and creates something that families can treasure forever. But we can only continue this work with the support of people who believe in the power of music and human connection.

By becoming a Friend of The Swan Song Project, you'll join a community of supporters helping us bring comfort, creativity, and meaning to people during some of life's most difficult moments.

Whether you choose to give £5, £10, £20 or more each month, your support helps ensure that nobody misses the opportunity to tell their story through song.

A small monthly gift can make a lasting difference.

Will you become a Friend today? ❤️

There are easy ways to start your monthly donation on our website, through Just Giving or Paypal. Get in touch if you need help and we can send you the links.

12/06/2026

“There could be something much more personalised and permanent to let his memory live on.”

In 2024, Kathryn Jones sadly lost her son, Oliver, to Motor Neurone Disease.
Recently, Kathryn worked with The Swan Song Project to write a song in Oliver's memory called "The Amazing", a beautiful tribute celebrating his life and the love that continues to surround him.

Kathryn has also shared her experience of the songwriting process in a moving blog, reflecting on what creating the song meant to her and what it means to her family now.

We are incredibly grateful to Kathryn for trusting us with her story and allowing us to share it.

You can read the blog and listen to The Amazing in full on our website.

❤️ Thank you, Kathryn, for helping others understand the power of music, memories, and legacy.

05/06/2026

Complete this lyric...

This is an example of one of my favourite song structures, what I call a "List and switch". This is where a series of lines list things that have something in common, they are then followed by a line that is the opposite in some way.

"You're Missing" by Bruce Springsteen and "Gotta Serve Somebody" by Bob Dylan are two of my favourite examples of list and switch songs. It's a powerful form and easy to replicate sections once established.

Let me know I'm the comments how you would finish this lyric, or any favourite "list and switch" songs.

05/06/2026

Can you help more people to write their Swan Songs?

The Swan Song Project is a small charity that helps terminally ill and bereaved people to write an original song. This service is offered for free thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

Its getting harder and harder for small charities to keep the music playing.

If you can support our work in any way It makes a huge difference.
Here are a few ways you could support:
● Make a donation
● Organise a fundraising event
● Share our social media posts
● Ask your workplace to support us.

We really appreciate your support.

02/06/2026

This is always a happy memory when it comes around.

In 2019 I was going to see The Alabama 3 in York, when we got there I saw there was some cameras set up and I thought "Cool, maybe they're filming for a live DVD" (I think they were still fashionable at the time). When the gig started, I kept thinking one of the cameras was looking at me but convinced myself I was just being paranoid.

Then after a few songs, Larry started saying loads of good stuff about music and legacy. He then said "Is Ben Slack in the room right now?". First I looked around to see if there was another Ben Slack there, then I worried about climbing over the barrier to get on stage (I was a bit lighter in those days). He welcomed me up on stage and said loads of right nice things about The Swan Song Project. There were some people I had written songs with there as well as some of my family and friends who had been hidden away in the back when I arrived. I have been tricked into doing some filming at the hospice a few days before too under the illusion it was some general promo for Marie Curie.

The whole thing was organised by long term supporters of Swan Song, The National Lottery Community Fund (with a lot of help from my wife and some staff at the hospice). It was then broadcast on prime time, Saturday evening ITV, think it was during strictly or something. I went to see John Wick 3 in the cinema and turned my phone off when it was on as it felt too weird.

It certainly was a big surprise and brought lots more eyes to Swan Song which is always appreciated. It also started an ongoing relationship with The Alabama 3 who have been great supporters of Swan Song since (Larry featured on ep 72 of the podcast).

Good times.

29/05/2026

Do you want to listen to all our Swan Songs in one place? On one fantastic playlist?

Our Soundcloud channel has them all ready to go for you to listen to anytime, anywhere.

With almost 150 Swan Songs available, our playlist brings together all of the beautiful, personal songs we've supported over the years.

Whether you've been involved with the Project or are hearing about us for the first time, we'd love you to listen and share these lasting legacies and wonderful stories.

We've put the link in the comments for you to enjoy now.

28/05/2026

"It’s a beautiful, innovative and bespoke way of memorialising someone."

Some lovely feedback from a recent Swan Song participant.

Visit our website if you would like our support to write a bespoke song in memory of someone you love.

28/05/2026

27/05/2026

Huge thanks to Hannah Dilworth for sharing her experience of recording her Swan Song with her Dad in 2024. Hannah is a professional musician herself, and came to us for support in writing a song with her Dad about his life in Christian ministry.

Here Hannah shares what it meant to her and her family to have precious time together creating John’s Swan Song. You can hear their song ‘Wonderful’ over on our website - and we’ll post the link in the comments.

26/05/2026

“People very rarely write a sad song. I always say that while the context of our work might be sad, generally the songs are about the things people are most proud of, the things people most enjoyed about their lives”

Read Songs can Live Forever in our special edition of magazine, curated to celebrate Dying Matters Week 2026 to find out more about the wonderful work Ben, Founder & Creative Director of the Swan Song Project, does. You can find it here:

www.rarity-life.com



With thanks to for their support