And When I Die

Album: Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969)
Charted: 2
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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 near
    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, 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 I pray there ain't no hell
    But I'll never know by living
    Only by dying will tell
    Yes, only by 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 the 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
    Hey, hey

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

    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, yeah, yeah Writer/s: Laura Nyro
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 20

  • Rapcrapkilledgoodmusic from Wyckoff Heights, Bklyn.Please bring back Headphones. For earbuds sound like you want a can of Budweiser in your ears.
  • Irishcalifornian from Cali."I can swear there ain't no heavan, but I pray there ain't no hell" is probably the best lyric I have ever heard in the rock and roll era.
    I kind of live by that mantra.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyExactly fifty years today on November 23rd, 1969, Blood, Sweat, and Tears' "And When I Die"* peaked at #2 {for 1 week}, the week it was at #2,the #1 record for that week was "Come Together"/"Something" by The Beatles...
    The rest of the Top 10 on November 23rd, 1969:
    At #3. "Wedding Bell Blues"* by The 5th Dimension
    #4. "Take A Letter Marie" by R.B. Greaves
    #5. "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam
    #6. "Smile A Little Smile For Me" by The Flying Machine
    #7. "Leaving On A Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul and Mary
    #8. "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" by Stevie Wonder
    #9. "Down On The Corner"/"Fotunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
    #10. "Eli's Coming"* by Three Dog Night
    * As noted above, three of the records in the Top 10 were composed by Laura Nyro, "And When I Die", "Wedding Bell Blues", and "Eli's Coming"...
    May Ms. Nyro {1947 - 1997} R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 12th 1969, "And When I Die" by Blood, Sweat, and Tears entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #50; and on November 23rd, 1969 it peaked at #2 {for 1 week}...
    It was BS&T's third straight release to peak at #2, it followed "You've Made Me So Very Happy" and "Spinning Wheel", and all three records each spent 13 weeks a piece on the Top 100...
    The week "And When I Die" was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Come Together/Something" by the Beatles.
  • Steve from Whittier, CaThe LP version is better due to the instrumental breaks between chorus 1/verse 2 then verse 2/chorus 2. All it needed was a chorus 3.
  • Jeff from Beverly Hills, MaHow could a 17-year old write such enduring and profound lyrics? Laura was such a talented writer.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhOh, and I want to tip a hat and give a deep curtsy to the songwriter extraordinaire who is known as Miss Laura Nyro. Btw, the instrumentation in the background of this song really stands out when I play it on my ipod and listen to it with the earbuds.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhI've mentioned it with other songs, and will repeat here: 1969 was just a banner year for soo much music that was destined to become classic! This is just one of many examples. Blood, Sweat and Tears is a fabulous group with many great hits.
  • Steve from Whittier, CaBS&T's take form the fall of 1969 is a lot of fun. I'm listening to the long version on my mp3. The single contained two edit points between the refrains and 2nd and 3rd verses, the imaginative instrumentation.
  • Joni from Louisville, KyCould somebody please put Blood Sweat and Tears pictures on here instead of Elvis on the video screen?
  • Mike from Matawan, Nj"Laura, I saw you open in L.A., there's somethin' I gotta say, Laura...." Cool info Anne!! I didn't know that and I thought I knew everything about Todd.
  • Anne from Kerrville, Italythe song "baby, let's swing" by Todd Rundgren is about Laura ...he said after hearing her he started playing songs like her instead of the who
  • Anne from Kerrville, ItalyI totally agree w/ Jay from Brooklyn
  • Renee from Minneapolis, MnI'm with Jay on this one. Every time I listen to this song it definitely has a spiritual sort of vibe to it. Obviously Laura Nyro was wise far beyond her years to write something with so much depth and meaning to it.
  • Jay from Brooklyn, NyAs far as I know, the Temptations never recorded "And When I Die", but if they had, it would have been incredible. Imagine how this would sound with David Ruffin singing lead and the others doing background harmonies.
  • Jay from Brooklyn, NyI agree with Casey, but would like to add more. It's hard to belive that this song, which sounds like an African-American spiritual, was written by a 17 year-old Italian-Jewish girl from the Bronx. Whenever this is on the radio, I crank up the volume and shout it out.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI've never heard this song. Laura Niro was a great songwriter though. I've heard "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Eli's Comming", just not her versions.
  • Casey from Pensacola, FlIt's hard to believe this song was written by a 17 year-old. It just rings with an aged wisdom of someone who has figured out what is really important in life.
  • Daniel from Cincinnatti, Orwhy arent there more Blood Sweat and Tears songs on this site. I want to figure out what "House in the Country" is about
  • Mike from Ames, IaKept off the top of the charts by the Beatles'
    "Something / Come Together".
see more comments

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