Lyr/Chords Req: As Long as You Live, You'll Be...

Subject: '...you'll be dead when you die'
From: SharonA
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 06:09 PM

Hello, all! There's a big-band era swing tune that two of the local public radio stations play from time to time, and I'd love to learn it but can't seem to find it on music sites. I must admit, I haven't looked through all 413,000 search results on Google, but before I do I'm hoping someone here will know the song.

The "hook" of the song is "you'll be dead when you die." The only other lyrics I can recall (perhaps not correctly) are from the last verse:

So listen to(?) my final warning:
You're gonna wake up dead one morning
Then [you'll say?] how about that [gal?]...
{one or two lines missing here}...you'll be dead when you die
Dead when you die
{two or three lines missing here}
[for the rest of your life?]

Does this ring a bell with anyone? Thanks in advance for any help finding this!

Sharon

Subject: Lyr Add: WAKE UP DEAD (Arlo Guthrie)
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 06:40 PM

Hi, SharonA.

Well, songs called "Wake Up Dead" are done by Peace Sells, Megadeath, U2, and iNdecision. There are two books with that name. And then there's this, from this site. (Not exactly a big band era tune...) Any more info?

Lin

WAKE UP DEAD
Words and music by Arlo Guthrie

When I was younger she'd come to me in dreams.
Her face was hidden in the mountain streams,
Her voice disguised as the sound of the wind.
The rustling of leaves she would call from within.

Chorus: Wake up, wake up, wake up, she said.
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up dead.

So many memories of those years have passed
Beyond the confusion that I thought would last forever.
The countless veils that I wore like clothes
Have been stripped away. Now I stand here exposed. Chorus

In the night when the moon casts no shadows at all,
We sat by the fire as she started to call
Out to all who would hear that the death of what's dead
Is the birth of what's living, and her words filled my head. Chorus

It's the life that lies sleeping when you think you're awake.
Forever is real and the rest is just fake,
And though volumes are written on this subject alone,
She used three simple words and she brought it all home. Chorus

©1994 Arloco Music Inc (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: '...you'll be dead when you d
From: nutty
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 03:26 AM

Can't find the written words anywhere but here's a great sound file of Louis Armstrong singing the song

AS LONG AS YOU LIVE YOU'LL BE DEAD IF YOU DIE

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: '...you'll be dead when you d
From: SharonA
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 10:58 AM

nutty: That's the song! Thanks for the link. For whatever reason, I can't get RealPlayer to play the sound file. I may have to (*gasp*) find the CD and buy it! At least I now know the proper title, songwriters (Bernie Hanighen and Johnny Mercer) and the date Armstrong recorded it (May 13, 1938). Thanks again!

The version played on the local radio stations I mentioned is sung by a woman. I'll call one of those stations, get her name and post it here. If anyone else can post lyrics and/or advise me about getting RealPlayer (the freebie version) to work for me, please do! Thanks!

Sharon

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: '...you'll be dead when you d
From: Marymac90
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 11:40 AM

SharonA, I have a couple of Armstrong cds, but I'm not sure if this is on 'em. Call me at home sometime and I'll check--you've got my number, don'tcha?

Marymac

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: '...you'll be dead when you d
From: SharonA
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 12:00 PM

Um... I have a number that I hope is still correct! I'm not sure how long ago you gave it to me! I'll try it tonight. Thanks, Mary!

Subject: Lyr Add: AS LONG AS YOU LIVE, YOU'LL BE DEAD IF...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 01:03 PM

Here's my transcription from the recording at RedHotJazz.com:


AS LONG AS YOU LIVE, YOU'LL BE DEAD IF YOU DIE
(Bernie Hanighen / Johnny Mercer)

I'm gonna leave you ...(?)
Somebody else is beatin' my time(?)
But you'll never hear me cry,
'Cause as long as you live, you'll be dead if you die.
You had your fun and now you rush off.
You're givin' me a royal(?) brush-off.
Now, you'll be sorry by and by,
'Cause as long as you live, you'll be dead if you die.

Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Take the good advice I give.
Oh, yes! Oh, yes! As long as you live, you'll be dead if you die.
You die, you're dead, as long as you live.

So here's a final word of warning:
You're gonna wake up dead some morning.
Then you'll cry: "How 'bout that guy?
I don't believe he was telling a lie."
So take it from me, as hard as you try,
As long as you live, you'll be dead if you die.

[Recorded by Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra, 1938.]

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: As Long as You Live, You'll Be...
From: GUEST,nyrngrs694
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 11:35 PM

Go to " The Complete Lyrics by Johnny Mercer" It's a little grainy but you can make out the words. I remember this song from when I was little. Only I remember a woman singing it. The only woman I've found from that era to record a song with this title, As Long As You Live ( You'll Be Dead If You Die), is Mildred Bailey. But the samples I get are only instrumentals and don't sound the same.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: As Long as You Live, You'll Be...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Jan 10 - 01:24 PM

Thanks for the tip. I found the book at Amazon.com, and was able to "preview" the lyrics. I can now make these corrections to the lyrics I previously posted:

I'm gonna leave you 'cause it's high time.

You're givin' me an awful brush-off.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: As Long as You Live, You'll Be...
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 02:45 PM

This is Edythe Wright singing with Tommy Dorsey. It's on the record Tommy Dorsey and his Clambake Seven. The song is called As Long as You Live (You'll Be Dead When You Die).

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: As Long as You Live, You'll Be...
From: GUEST,stayathomearchitect
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 02:49 PM

One more thing: The recording is available on iTunes, but mislabeled on the record download as "Chinatown. My Chinatown".