Grief is therefore portrayed in the poem as a very isolating feeling, one that isolates those who grieve from the world around them. Get the whole "Funeral Blues" (Stop the Clocks) guide as a printable PDF. "Funeral blues" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1964. It first appeared on an album called The Times They Are A-Changin'. Dylan's own grief over the death of his wife, Sara, can be heard in his voice as he sings about their two children and how his life will never be the same again. He also pines for lost love ones who have died. The song has been covered by many artists including Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Jerry Garcia, Nick Drake, Nina Simone, and Bruce Springsteen. It is believed that "funeral blues" is a reference to the fact that someone who has died becomes a part of a funeral procession. The phrase was popularized by Bob Dylan when he wrote it in a letter to his former girlfriend, Joan Baez, after she had asked him what kind of music he liked. In 1964, Joan Baez recorded a version of "Funeral Blues" that became a hit. It is believed that Dylan based the song on this recording.