Matthew Perry's Funeral Song Had a Very Special Meaning

Matthew Perry

After passing away on Oct. 28, at the age of 54, Matthew Perry was laid to rest in an intimate ceremony that took place on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California.

During the ceremony, Perry's funeral song, "Don't Give Up" by Peter Gabriel featuring Kate Nash, was played, and the chosen tune held a lot of personal meaning for the late actor.

The song, which was released in 1986, features the lyrics, "Don't give up / 'Cause you have friends / Don't give up / You're not beaten yet / Don't give up / I know you can make it good." In late 2022, Perry shared the significance of the song for him while speaking with podcaster Tom Power.

When asked what music might be on a hypothetical soundtrack for his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry confidently told Power, "'Don't Give Up.' Listen to this song when you get home, Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush. I don't know if you've heard it as it was a long time ago but it's beautiful."

"They are saying 'Don't give up.' I mean, come on, how am I not going to like that? The music video was just them hugging each other and the camera just went around until the song ended," he went on. "It was so cool and I loved that. When I sign [my] book, I always put 'Don't give up' there, because you shouldn't give up."

Elton John was another celebrity similarly affected by "Don't Give Up," with the musical icon saying in the documentary, The Kate Bush Story: Running Up That Hill, "This was one record that saved my life. That record helped me get sober ... So she played a big part in my rebirth. That record helped me so much."

Perry's family and friends were in attendance at his memorial service, including his Friends co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and Courteney Cox.

Next: How Matthew Perry's Wish Is Becoming a Reality After His Death