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Norman Greenbaum — Spirit In The Sky
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Avg rating:
7.4

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Total ratings: 200









Released: 1969
Length: 3:57
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When they lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky

Goin' up to the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)
That's where I'm gonna go when I die (when I die)
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm 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 you to the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)
Whoa, he'll recommend you to the spirit in the sky

That's where you're gonna go when you die (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've never sinned
I've got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with the spirit in the sky
Whoa, set me up with the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)

That's where I'm gonna go when I die (when I die)
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best
Comments (29)add comment
Norman Greenbaum is the most rock and roll name ever, amarite??
Posted 1 week ago by argexpat    [ Reply ]
(no lyrics available)?
How is that possible?
It's been over 50 years.
Someone must have 'em!
Posted 2 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Looks like marijuana on the front porch. This needs to be reported to the authorities in 1969.
Posted 5 years ago by zurcronium    [ Reply ]
{#Cheesygrin}
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Glad to see Mr. Greenbaum.  He looks healthy.
Posted 11 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
 ghcollins86 wrote:
LOVE this song . . . always have!!! {#Dancingbanana_2}
 
Me too—-and loved when I found out his name was....Norman Greenbaum!    (Very cool song/very nerdy name.)

Posted 13 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
This original is good, but the version performed by Doctor and the Medics is awsome. =)


Posted 15 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
Since I started listening to RP my old bong has been getting more action.
Posted 16 years ago by papaman    [ Reply ]
There are more songs based on this riff than anyone would ever know.
 To Bill- re: your comment about how it became a hit -Musicians(guitarists I mean, it's a natural hand position) have this riff ingrained from birth, he caught the lightning to get it out there at the right time in the right way. That's why it was a hit.
 

 I think I've mentioned elsewhere on RP that "La Grange " by ZZ Top is somewhat similar, it's just where your hands naturally go when you pick up a guitar, not influenced by any style of music, I mean the way your hands physically lay down on the fretboard.

 The "crotch" of your hand lays at the top of the guitar on the neck where the strings ground(OK-it's called the nut for any Beavis types), and your index or maybe your 3rd finger or maybe even your 4th if you're cool  naturally lays on the 3rd and 4th(4th finger natural strength =gift from God,Mark Knopfler type stuff)strings at the 2nd fret and your pinkie is hangin out on 5th Fret  and  Bronze Street.

Posted 16 years ago by bokey    [ Reply ]
Nice sea-holly, too.
Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Only one thing to say....

{#Devil_pimp}
Posted 16 years ago by jcioban    [ Reply ]

Greenbaum set out to write a religious rock song. He is Jewish, but instead of using a Jewish word for God, he used "Jesus" because he thought it would be more marketable.

The original inspiration for this was a song about a preacher by Country singer Porter Waggoner. Greenbaum was also influenced by Folk revival music and traditional Southern Blues.

It took months for Greenbaum to finish the music, but the lyrics came really quickly. (thanks to Norman for telling us about this song)

Greenbaum began his musical career while a student at Boston University, playing area coffeehouses before relocating to the West Coast during the mid-'60s and forming Dr. West's Medicine Show and Jugband. The now-defunct band had one hit, "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago," and broke up in 1968. The group was characterized as a psychedelic jug band - "jugs" like Southern moonshiners used were blown to make sound. The band also used a washboard bass. (thanks, Stevie - louisville, KY)

Greenbaum used to run a goat farm.

This has been used in many TV shows and films, including Contact and Wayne's World II. It was also used in a popular American Express commercial. (thanks, Amy - Chicago, IL)


Posted 16 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
LOVE this song . . . always have!!! {#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 16 years ago by ghcollins86    [ Reply ]
macadavy wrote:
The latter is my guess. If you don't like this you can always go listen to Bobby Bare singing "Drop Kick Me Jesus (Through the Goalposts of Life)" (the world's only Christian football waltz, and a 1976 Grammy nominee).
I think I agree with you. I really like almost all the gospel music I've heard (though I haven't made a study of it or anything), but I've never heard it be so self-congratulatory. That's what made me think this was a joke.
Posted 16 years ago by helene    [ Reply ]
araujokrl wrote:
I'm not so sure that's "his own"..looks more like a whacked out type of thistle
Still worth a try though
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
helene wrote:
Is he a self-righteous jerk, or making fun of self-righteous jerks? Reminds me of the Austin Lounge Lizards classic, "Jesus Loves Me But He Can't Stand You."
"Interestingly, although his one hit "Spirit in the Sky" is considered by many to be a Jesus rock song with a heavily Christian theme, Greenbaum was and still is a practicing Jew. He was inspired to write the song after observing a country musician singing a song about a preacher on television. ~ Wikipedia"
So the latter is my guess. If you don't like this you can always listen to Bobby Bare singing "Drop Kick Me Jesus (Through the Goalposts of Life)" (the world's only Christian football waltz, and a 1976 Grammy nominee).
Posted 16 years ago by macadavy    [ Reply ]
EssexTex wrote:
Growing his own in a window box...explains a lot
I'm not so sure that's "his own"..looks more like a whacked out type of thistle
Posted 16 years ago by araujokrl    [ Reply ]
The photo on the LP cover is so 70s :)
Posted 16 years ago by sunny_day    [ Reply ]
Is he a self-righteous jerk, or making fun of self-righteous jerks? Reminds me of the Austin Lounge Lizards classic, "Jesus Loves Me But He Can't Stand You."
Posted 16 years ago by helene    [ Reply ]
Acid-rock Gospel. Has there been anything quite like this since then? I always liked this. and after a long time since hearing it last, still do.
Posted 16 years ago by philbertr    [ Reply ]
If only that guitar riff continued a bit longer at the end...
Posted 16 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
Musically a 10, but the self-righteousness is unbearable.
Posted 16 years ago by TanteJensen    [ Reply ]
Blimey - no comments! Can't remember the last time I heard this - probably some sad party. Must admit, I do like Mike and the Mechanics version.
Posted 16 years ago by mgkiwi    [ Reply ]
happy memories
Posted 16 years ago by jameshay    [ Reply ]
Yeah, but it is a cool song.
Posted 16 years ago by Loonytunas    [ Reply ]
Growing his own in a window box...explains a lot
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
Great song - great memories
Posted 16 years ago by californiatwin    [ Reply ]
A cool riff wasted on an otherwise goofy song.
Posted 16 years ago by TheLoneIguana    [ Reply ]
...that guitar distortion is just e p i c - nothing beats razor-slashed paper cones for unbridled rawness...
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]