Single:
And When I Die entered the Australian singles chart* on 17 November 1969 and peaked at #4. It was #38 on the Top 100 of 1969.
Album:
The song is on Blood, Sweat & Tears which entered the Australian albums chart* on 7 June 1969 and peaked at #4.
Songwriter:
Laura Nyro
Producer:
James William Guercio
Record label of Australian release:
CBS
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Songfacts:
And When I Die was one of the first songs written by Laura Nyro, who was 17 when she wrote it. The song was first recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary in 1966. Nyro included it on her first album in 1967, More Than A New Discovery. Blood, Sweat & Tears, a nine-man group with a prominent horn section, covered it in 1969, and their version was the hit.
And When I Die is about death, but also about living, reflecting on our limited time on Earth and the futility in wasting that time worrying about what comes next. And when we die, another will be born to replace us.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/blood-sweat-tears/and-when-i-die
Lyrics:
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
Click for full lyrics
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