Thursday; October 9, 2008
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Spirit In The Sky
Words & Music and Vocals by: Norman Greenbaum
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
.
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
.
Prepare yourself; you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend youTo the spirit in the sky
.
Gonna recommend youTo the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best
.
Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up withThe spirit in the sky
.
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
.
.
* I’ve always wondered why a person named Greenbaum would be singing the praises of Jesus …
Norman Greenbaum had previously been a member of psychedelic jug band Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band. When they split up he won a solo contract with producer Erik Jacobsen, who had previously worked successfully with The Lovin' Spoonful. He was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner on TV singing a gospel song. Greenbaum later said : "I thought, 'Yeah, I could do that,' knowing nothing about gospel music, so I sat down and wrote my own gospel song. It came easy. I wrote the words in 15 minutes.”
"Spirit in the Sky" contains lyrics about the afterlife, making several references to Jesus. However, Greenbaum, who identifies himself as Jewish, stated that he had no particular religious intentions with the song. He simply wanted to reach a bigger market. In fact, the line "Never been a sinner, I never sinned" runs counter to the Christian concept of sin. (Though, it is consistent with some interpretations of the Doctrine of Justification) The song's guitar riff was inspired by John Lee Hooker's influential "Boogie Chillen."
Greenbaum recorded his first solo album with Jacobsen for ‘Reprise Records’. The song's arrangement came together in the studio in San Francisco where Lead Guitarist Russell DaShiell, Bass Player, Doug Killmer and Drummer Norman Mayall worked with Greenbaum. Greenbaum himself used a Fender Telecaster with a Fuzz Box built into the body to generate the song's characteristic guitar sound.
* Now I know. He simply wanted to reach a larger audience. J
* I’ve always wondered why a person named Greenbaum would be singing the praises of Jesus …
Norman Greenbaum had previously been a member of psychedelic jug band Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band. When they split up he won a solo contract with producer Erik Jacobsen, who had previously worked successfully with The Lovin' Spoonful. He was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner on TV singing a gospel song. Greenbaum later said : "I thought, 'Yeah, I could do that,' knowing nothing about gospel music, so I sat down and wrote my own gospel song. It came easy. I wrote the words in 15 minutes.”
"Spirit in the Sky" contains lyrics about the afterlife, making several references to Jesus. However, Greenbaum, who identifies himself as Jewish, stated that he had no particular religious intentions with the song. He simply wanted to reach a bigger market. In fact, the line "Never been a sinner, I never sinned" runs counter to the Christian concept of sin. (Though, it is consistent with some interpretations of the Doctrine of Justification) The song's guitar riff was inspired by John Lee Hooker's influential "Boogie Chillen."
Greenbaum recorded his first solo album with Jacobsen for ‘Reprise Records’. The song's arrangement came together in the studio in San Francisco where Lead Guitarist Russell DaShiell, Bass Player, Doug Killmer and Drummer Norman Mayall worked with Greenbaum. Greenbaum himself used a Fender Telecaster with a Fuzz Box built into the body to generate the song's characteristic guitar sound.
* Now I know. He simply wanted to reach a larger audience. J
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