"Always look on the Bright Side of Life" - Eric Idle (1979)
First sung in film "Life of Brian" Aug 1979
Michael Palin noted in his diary for 16 June 1978 that during a script meeting, "Eric's two songs-'Otto' and the 'Look on the Bright Side' crucifixion song-are rather coolly received before lunch." Despite being initially underwhelmed, the group warmed to Idle's efforts and the song was retained. While practising during a break in filming, Idle found that it worked better if sung in a more cheeky manner by a character of his called "Mr Cheeky", which in turn was based on the film's Cockney lighting crew. This new version was used in the film and became one of Monty Python's most famous compositions.

In 2005, a survey by Music Choice showed that it was the third-most popular song Britons would like played at their funerals. By 2014, it was the most popular.

Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best
And

Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the right side of life

If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing

So always look on the bright side of death
A just before you draw your terminal breath

Life's a counterfeit
When you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true
You'll see it's all a show
Keep 'em laughin' as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you
And

Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the right side of life
(C'mon Brian, cheer up)
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life

I mean, what have you got to lose?
You know, you come from nothing
You're going back to nothing
What have you lost? Nothing

Always look on the right side of life

Nothing will come from nothing, ya know what they say
Cheer up ya old b---- c'mon give us a grin (Always look on the right side of life)
There ya are, see
It's the end of the film
Incidentally this record's available in the foyer (Always look on the right side of life)

Some of us got to live as well, you know
(Always look on the right side of life)
Who do you think pays for all this rubbish
(Always look on the right side of life)
They're not gonna make their money back, you know
I told them, I said to him, Bernie, I said they'll never make their money back
(Always look on the right side of life)