Ozzy Osbourne once shared the Beatles song he hoped would be played at his funeral

For Ozzy Osbourne, The Beatles were never just a band—they were the spark that lit the fuse for everything he would become. Growing up in Birmingham in the 1960s, Ozzy often spoke about how the arrival of The Beatles on the radio changed his life overnight. Their music pulled him out of the monotony of working-class England and convinced him that something bigger was possible.

Throughout his career, Ozzy never shied away from crediting The Beatles as his greatest influence. He has said countless times that hearing “She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” as a teenager was a true awakening, inspiring him to chase his own dream and eventually form Black Sabbath. Ozzy once joked that he didn’t just want to be a Beatle—he wanted to marry them.

But as time passed, it was a different Beatles song that took on special meaning for Ozzy: “In My Life,” the poignant John Lennon-penned track from the legendary Rubber Soul album. With its gentle melody and lyrics reflecting on the passage of time and treasured memories, the song resonated with Ozzy as he grew older, looking back on his own wild journey.

In various interviews, Ozzy explained why “In My Life” stood above all other songs when he thought about his legacy. He described it as a perfect summary of his feelings about his past—the friends he lost, the adventures he survived, and the deep gratitude he felt for all the people who shaped him. “It’s about love and loss, but also about appreciation,” Ozzy said.

Ozzy’s connection to “In My Life” was so deep that he once recorded his own cover of the song, giving it a heartfelt rock edge while preserving its emotional core. Fans who heard his version noted that, for all his wildman image, Ozzy was capable of tremendous vulnerability and sincerity—qualities that always drew him to The Beatles’ most introspective tracks.

The story of Ozzy’s funeral song choice became public knowledge in a 2010 interview with The Sunday Times. When asked what music he’d want played at his funeral, Ozzy didn’t hesitate: “In My Life” by The Beatles. The answer was both surprising and not surprising at all—coming from a man who, underneath the gothic theatrics, always wore his heart on his sleeve.

Ozzy’s family and friends have also commented on how much the song means to him. Sharon Osbourne has recalled hearing him play “In My Life” at home during quiet moments, lost in reflection. Their children, too, know how closely the lyrics mirror Ozzy’s own journey, especially as he’s faced health struggles and considered his own mortality.

As news of Ozzy’s passing spread, fans around the world began revisiting “In My Life” with fresh ears, many sharing it online as a tribute to the Prince of Darkness. The song’s message—cherishing the past, honoring loved ones, and accepting the passage of time—felt especially poignant in the wake of Ozzy’s final goodbye.

For Ozzy, choosing “In My Life” as his funeral song wasn’t just about personal nostalgia. It was a way of connecting his story to something universal—a reminder that, no matter how wild or unlikely our journeys may be, what truly matters in the end are the people and memories we gather along the way.

Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy will always be defined by thunderous riffs, outrageous moments, and a career that rewrote the rules of rock and roll. But his choice of funeral song reveals something deeper—a heart full of gratitude, and a desire to be remembered not just as a legend, but as a man who loved, lost, and never forgot where he came from.