And When I Die

Blood, Sweat & Tears

About And When I Die

"And When I Die" is a song written by American singer and songwriter Laura Nyro. It was first recorded by the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary in 1966. Nyro released her own version on her debut album More Than a New Discovery in February 1967. The song is best known for the next version, recorded by the jazz-rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears in late 1968. This recording reached #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a Gold record. In the US, it was kept from #1 by the double A-side "Come Together"/"Something" by The Beatles. "And When I Die" also reached #1 in Canada, in December 1969. 


Year:
1972
4:05
745 
#4

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I'm not scared of dying 
And I don't really care
If it's peace you find in dying, 
Well, then let the time be near

If it's peace you find in dying, 
And if dying time is here, 
Just bundle up my coffin cause 
It's cold way down there, 
I hear that's it's cold way down there,
Yeah, crazy cold way down there

And when I die and when I'm gone, 
There'll be one child born 
In this world to carry on, to carry on

Now troubles are many, 
They're as deep as a well
I can swear there ain't no heaven 
But I pray there ain't no hell

Swear there ain't no heaven 
And pray there ain't no hell, 
But I'll never know by living, 
Only my dying will tell, 
Only my dying will tell, yeah, 
Only my dying will tell

And when I die and when I'm gone, 
There'll be one child born 
In this world to carry on, to carry on

Give me my freedom for as long as I be
All I ask of living is to have no chains on me 

All I ask of living is to have no chains on me, 
And all I ask of dying is to go naturally, 
Only want to go naturally

Here I go, ah

Here comes the devil, right behind
Look out children, here he come
Here he come

Don't want to go by the devil, 
Don't want to go by the demon, 
Don't want to go by Satan, 
Don't want to die uneasy,
Just let me go naturally

And when I die and when I'm dead, dead and gone, 
There'll be one child born,
In our world to carry on, to carry on

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Blood, Sweat & Tears

Blood, Sweat & Tears (also known as "BS&T") is an American music group, originally formed in 1967 in New York City. Since its beginnings in 1967, the band has gone through numerous iterations with varying personnel and has encompassed a multitude of musical styles. What the band is most known for, from its start, is the fusing of rock, blues, pop music, horn arrangements and jazz improvisation into a hybrid that came to be known as "jazz-rock". Unlike "jazz fusion" bands, which tend toward virtuostic displays of instrumental facility and some experimentation with electric instruments, the songs of Blood, Sweat & Tears merged the stylings of rock, pop and R&B/soul music with big band, while also adding elements of 20th Century Classical and sma… more »

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Written by: LAURA NYRO

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


17 facts about this song

Ownership - Blood Sweat & Tears Cover
"And When I Die" is a song that was originally written and recorded by the American songstress Laura Nyro, but it is perhaps best known as a version by the band Blood, Sweat & Tears.
Laura Nyro Original Version
Laura Nyro actually wrote this song when she was only 17 years old. - Nyro was a prolific songwriter who penned many hit songs. "And When I Die" is credited as one of her signature songs. - The song was released on her 1967 debut album "More Than a New Discovery".
Blood, Sweat & Tears Version
When "Blood, Sweat & Tears" covered "And When I Die" it became a major hit for the band and was included in their self-titled second album in 1968. - On the band's version, it is arranged in a jazz-rock style, that was unique and distinctive at the time. - The Blood, Sweat & Tears version of "And When I Die" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969.
Peter, Paul and Mary Version
The folk trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary, also did a cover of "And When I Die" in 1967. - Their version was included on the album "Album 1700". - Peter, Paul, and Mary were known for their harmonious performances, and their version of "And When I Die" is no exception.
Notable Lyrics and Theme
The song strangely explores concepts of mortality and the afterlife, with lyrics like, "And when I die, and when I'm gone, There'll be one child born and a world to carry on." - Despite its mortality theme, the song has an upbeat tempo and is seen as accepting and positive towards the idea of death.
Recognition & Legacy
"And When I Die" has been recognized as a classic hit of the late '60s, immortalized by its play on classic rock radio stations. - It also has positively impacted the careers of Laura Nyro, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Peter, Paul, and Mary, adding much-needed credibility and commercial success to their discographies.
Other Covers
"And When I Die" has been covered by several other artists including The Heavy and Billy Childs. - The song's universal message and catchy melody have made it a popular choice for interpretations across different genres and styles.
Composer of the Song - Laura Nyro
• "And When I Die" was written by Laura Nyro when she was just a teenager. • Laura Nyro was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved considerable critical acclaim but had limited commercial success.
Initial Release - Peter, Paul and Mary
• The first recorded version of "And When I Die" was by Peter, Paul and Mary in 1966. • "And When I Die" was included in their album named "The Peter, Paul and Mary Album."
Popular Version - Blood, Sweat & Tears
• The song is best known for the version by 'Blood, Sweat & Tears' released in 1969. • Blood, Sweat & Tears' version of the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Album & Grammy - Blood, Sweat & Tears
• The song was featured on the group's self-titled album "Blood, Sweat & Tears," which won a Grammy award for Album of the Year in 1970.
Lyrics Meaning
• Despite its somewhat somber title, "And When I Die" is an affirmation of life and living, offering a positive view of death as simply a part of life's cycle. The song carries a message of not fearing death but embracing it as a stage in existence.
Song Influence
• "And When I Die" has been featured in various popular culture forums. These include: the film "The Big Chill", TV shows like "The Wonder Years" and a 2020 Super Bowl commercial for NFL.
Cover Versions
• Besides Blood, Sweat & Tears and Peter, Paul and Mary, the song has also been covered by artists like Joe 90, The Heavy, and Billy Childs.
Posthumous Release - Laura Nyro
• Laura Nyro's own version of "And When I Die" was posthumously released on her album "Angel in the Dark" in 2005, almost ten years after her death.
Legacy
• "And When I Die" has remained a popular song over decades, and is considered a classic pop-rock anthem. It is especially praised for its optimistic take on mortality and life's ephemeral nature.
Laura Nyro's Contribution
• Though Laura Nyro herself didn't gain mass commercial acclaim, her songs like "And When I Die" have been covered and popularized by various artists, making her a significant figure in the world of pop and rock music.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1969

    Billboard #2


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