Blood, Sweat and Tears - When I Die (1970)

Thank you my friend CW5 Jack Cardwell for posting the classic 'rock' music video of Blood, Sweat and Tears performing Laura Nyro's song 'When I Die' in 1970.


For comparison here is the songwriter performing her song
Laura Nyro - And When I Die
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCvwDjgKPoc

Rest in peace Laura Nyro.
Born: Oct 18, 1947 · Bronx, NY
Died: Apr 08, 1997 · Danbury, CT


Song background
"This 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.

Nyro never had much success recording her own songs, but wrote several hits for other artists, including "Eli's Coming" for Three Dog Night and "Sweet Blindness" for The 5th Dimension. She died of cancer in 1997.
This song 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.
The Laura Nyro connection to Blood, Sweat & Tears: she was dating their bass player Jimmy Fielder. In our interview with David Clayton-Thomas, who was the group's lead singer, he explained: "Laura used to come to our rehearsals and hang out. Sometimes she'd bring a pizza to the rehearsal place - we were just all pals, and we knew Laura's songs. Even before she got her recording career launched, she was one of the inner circle of people we hung out with."
This song hit #2 US on November 29, 1969. That week, two other songs written by Laura Nyro were also in the Top 10: "Wedding Bell Blues" by 5th Dimension (#3) and "Eli's Coming" by Three Dog Night (#10).
"And When I Die" was the third consecutive BS&T song to stall at #2 in the US. None of their songs ever hit the top spot, but they're in good company: Creedence Clearwater Revival had five #2 hits without a chart-topper.
Structurally, this is a very unusual song with no real chorus. The title is the first line in the song and also shows up at the end, but makes just these two appearances. By starting the song with the word "and," it implies picking up a conversation - probably a good one."


And When I Die written by Laura Nyro
Lyrics
"And when I die
and when I'm dead, dead and gone,
There'll be one child born and
a world to carry on, to carry on

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,
when dying time is here,
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 and
a world to carry on, to carry on

My 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 pray there ain't no hell,
But I'll never know by living, only my dying will tell,
Only my dying will tell, yeah, only my dying will tell
And when I die and when I'm gone,
There'll be one child born and a world to carry on, to carry on

Give me my freedom for as long as I be
All I ask of 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
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 gone,
There'll be one child born, there'll be one child born
When I die, there'll be one child born
When I die, there'll be one child born
When I die, there'll be one child born
When I die, there'll be one child born"

FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Col Carl Whicker Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj Kim Patterson PO1 William "Chip" Nagel PO3 Phyllis Maynard SPC Margaret Higgins SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SGT Steve McFarland SGT Robert Pryor Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown LTC (Join to see) LTC Wayne Brandon LTC Greg Henning

Another of those groups that never made a bad song IMO.

CW5 Jack Cardwell Outstanding Tune! Bring It On! I Know I Shouldn't Be Here. I've Already Made Sure I'm Replaced. LOL!