Heaven and Hell
The Who
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On top of the sky is a place where you go if you've done nothing wrong If you've done nothing wrong And down in the ground is a place where you go if you've been a bad boy If you've been a bad boy Why can't we have eternal life And never die Never die? In the place up above you grow feather wings and you fly round and round With a harp singing hymns And down in the ground you grow horns and a tail and you carry a fork And burn away Why can't we have eternal life, and never die Never die?
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13 facts about this song
Song Classification"Heaven and Hell" is a song by John Entwistle, the bass guitarist for the British band "The Who."
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Composer InformationThe song was uniquely penned and sung by bassist John Entwistle, offering a pivot from usual lead singer Roger Daltrey.
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Release DateThe song was first performed live in 1968 but was never included on a studio album by the band.
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Album AppearanceA version of "Heaven and Hell" appeared on the 1970 album "Live at Leeds," recorded from The Who's concert at the University of Leeds in England.
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Lyrics ThemeThe lyrics of "Heaven and Hell" question the traditional Catholic view of Heaven being above and Hell being below us.
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Live Performance"Heaven and Hell" was used as the opening number for The Who's performances and concerts from 1968 until 1970.
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Bass ContributionJohn Entwistle's powerful bass playing on this song is considered by many fans and critics as one of his best performances.
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Musical StructureThe song features a simple verse-chorus structure, utilizing Entwistle's dark humor and satirical songwriting style.
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Role in DiscographyAlthough never released as a single or included on a studio album, "Heaven and Hell" remains a fan favorite and staple of The Who's discography.
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Entwistle's PersonaThe song is often cited as a reflection of Entwistle's cynicism and wit, often contrasting with the more romantic and philosophical lyrics of bandmate Pete Townshend.
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Album ArtOn the cover of the "Live at Leeds" album, where the song finds its home, is pure black with the band's name and venue appearing as though it's on a packing label, mimicking a bootleg record style.
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Album Recognition"Live at Leeds," the album that features "Heaven and Hell," is often cited as one of the greatest live rock albums of all time.
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Post-Entwistle PerformancesAfter John Entwistle's death in 2002, "Heaven and Hell" was seldom performed by the surviving members of The Who.
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Citation
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"Heaven and Hell Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3564738/The+Who/Heaven+and+Hell>.
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