Norman Greenbaum – Spirit In The Sky

Song

"Spirit in the Sky" is a song written and originally recorded by Norman Greenbaum and released in late 1969.

The single became a gold record, selling two million copies from 1969 to 1970.

Rolling Stone ranked No. 333 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song was featured on the 1969 album of the same name. Cover versions by Doctor and the Medics and Gareth Gates have also made the number 1 spot in the UK.

Album

Spirit in the Sky is the debut album by American singer-songwriterNorman Greenbaum. It contains his popular hit song, the title track with same name.

It was released on CD by Varèse Sarabande in 2001, with seven bonus tracks.

Re-released on vinyl by Varèse Sarabande for Record Store Day, April 19, 2014.

Artist

Norman Joel Greenbaum (born November 20, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter. He is best known for writing and performing the 1969 song "Spirit in the Sky".

Career

Greenbaum is best known for his song "Spirit in the Sky". The song, with its combination of 'heavy' guitar, hand-clapping, and spiritual lyrics, was released by Reprise Records in 1969. 

Although "Spirit in the Sky" has a clear Christian theme, Greenbaum was and remains an observant Jew. Greenbaum says he was inspired to write the song after watching country singers singing a song on television. In an interview Greenbaum stated that western movies were the real inspiration for "Spirit in the Sky":

Norman Greenbaum: If you ask me what I based "Spirit In The Sky" on ... what did we grow up watching? Westerns! These mean and nasty varmints get shot and they wanted to die with their boots on. So to me that was spiritual, they wanted to die with their boots on.

Ray Shasho: So that was the trigger that got you to write the song?

Norman Greenbaum: Yes. The song itself was simple, when you're writing a song you keep it simple of course. It wasn't like a Christian song of praise it was just a simple song. I had to use Christianity because I had to use something. But more important it wasn't the Jesus part, it was the spirit in the sky. Funny enough ... I wanted to die with my boots on.

Though Greenbaum is generally regarded as a one-hit wonder, several of his records placed prominently in the charts, including "Canned Ham" in 1970, which reached number 46 on the Billboard pop chart.

Norman Joel Greenbaum (Malden, 20 novembre 1942) è un cantautore statunitense.

È conosciuto soprattutto per aver scritto ed interpretato la canzone Spirit in the Sky, ricantata nel 1986 anche dal gruppo Doctor & the Medics.

Quando muoio e loro mi posano per riposare
Sto andando nel posto che è il migliore che esista
Quando giaccio per morire
Andando in alto verso lo spirito nel cielo (x2)
Lì è dove andrò quando morirò
Quando muoio e loro mi posano per riposare
Sto andando nel posto che è il migliore che esista

Preparati, lo sai che succederà
Devo avere un amico in Gesù
Così saprai che quando morirai
Lui ti raccomanderà
Allo spirito nel cielo
Ti raccomanderà
Allo spirito nel cielo
Questo è dove andrai quando morirai
Quando muori e ti lasciano per riposare
Andrai nel posto migliore che esista

Non sono mai stato un peccatore, non ho mai peccato
Ho un amico in Gesù
Così sai che quando morirò
Lui mi sistemerà con
Lo spirito nel cielo
Oh sistemami con lo spirito nel cielo
Lì è dove andrò quando morirò
Quando muoio e loro mi posano per riposare
Andrò nel posto migliore che esista
Nel posto migliore che esista