Lyr Add: And When I Die (Laura Nyro)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: And When I Die (Laura Nyro)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 04:01 PM

Laura Nyro was a great singer as well as songwriter, and it's too bad she died so young. I had bought one of her LPs ("Eli and the Thirteenth Confession") way back when it first came out, late 60s/early 70s, and I always expected her to make a bigger commercial splash than she ever did.

I had more-or-less forgotten about her until the last couple of weeks, when I suddenly began hearing "Stoned Soul Picnic" on our local community radio station (www.wwoz.org). I think that one of the volunteer DJs played Nyro's recording of the tune, and one or more of the other broadcasters heard it and were inspired to play the tune themselves, including several different artists' versions (including straight "pop" singing and jazz instrumental and vocal versions). One interesting jazz-vocal cut was a medley of "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" and "Stoned Soul Picnic" ("Can you surrey / Can you picnic?").

"Picnic" is a pretty unique song. Despite making absolutely no sense at all (at least to my ears), the lyrics are strangely compelling, and seem just right for the tune.

Subject: RE: And When I Die (Laura Nyro)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Aug 04 - 10:42 PM

From what I can find, it appears that Laura Nyro published the song in 1966, and it was on the 1966 Peter, Paul & Mary Album. Blood, Sweat & Tears recorded it in 1969. Laura Nyro wrote lots of songs that were recorded by Barbra Streisand and by the Fifth Dimension - or both. Among the songs she wrote were "Flim Flam Man," "Save the Country," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Stony End," "Wedding Bell Blues" (I hate that song), and "Eli's Coming."

I'm not sure when Laura started recording her own songs - I think it was the 1970's. Many of her songs sounded a whole lot better when she sang them. Her contemporary Carole King did the same thing - wrote songs for other, and then recorded them herself in the 1970's.

Of all the songs Nyro wrote, I think it's "And When I Die" that will endure. It has a timeless quality.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: When I Die
From: Mbo
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 11:05 AM

This is my uncle's favorite song! The Blood Sweat and Tears version, that is. Always used to go around singing it. I love Blood Sweat and Tears...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: When I Die
From: MMario
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 11:00 AM

I have heard PP&M do this one.

Subject: RE: When I Die
From: Barry Finn
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 09:27 AM

This was recorded by 'Blood, Sweat & Tears' don't know if PP&M ever covered it but no ever does justice when it comes to covering Laura's songs. Barry

Subject: RE: When I Die
From: mthompso
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 09:21 AM

Peter paul and mary?

Give me a break, If I remember it was blood sweat and tears. I used to listen to this in High shcool ( shows my age) about 69.

Don't confuse this with "When I Die" which was done by someone else and cane out at the same time. I liked this onr because they used a corded mandolin.

Subject: And When I Die
From:
Date: 14 Jan 00 - 01:49 AM

Peter, Paul and Mary did this. Mary sang lead, and did a nice job. don't think her voice can handle a song like this any more.

AND WHEN I DIE
(Laura Nyro)

And when I die, and when I'm dead, dead and gone,
There'll be one child born,
And a world to carry on.
There'll be one child born 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.

Chorus:

And when I die, and when I'm gone,
There'll be one child born and
A world to carry on.
There'll be one child born 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.
I can swear there ain't no heaven and I pray there ain't no hell,
But I'll never know by living, only my dying will tell.

Chorus

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.

Copyright Laura Nyro
@death
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