Lyr Req/Add: Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven

Subject: Lyr Req: Everybody wants to go to heaven
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 10:27 AM

Heard it the other day by I think the Cox Family

Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

Thanks

Subject: Lyr Add: EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 10:53 AM

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN

CHO:
Everybody wants to go to heaven
But nobody wants to die
Lord I wanna go to heaven
But I don't wanna die
I long for the day that I'll have a new birth
'Stead of grievin' here on earth
Everybody wants to go to heaven
But nobody wants to die.

Once upon a time there was a man his name was Heas-i-kie
He walked with God both day and night but he didn't want to die
He cried Oh Lord, please let me live, oh, mend these broken bones
God smiled down on Heasikie and gave him fifteen years to go.

When Jesus walked upon this earth he knew his father's friends
He knew that he must give his life to save the soul of man
When Judas had betrayed him his father heard his cry
He was brave enough unto his death but he didn't want to die.

SH

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody wants to go to heaven
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 11:29 AM

Thanks Susan -

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody wants to go to heaven
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 08:12 PM

Great version by Ellen McIlwaine (playing rocking bluesy piano, instead of her usual slide guitar), originally on her "We the People" album, now released on her "Up From the Skies" CD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody wants to go to heaven
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 08:14 PM

Yer welcome Guest-- do I know you? Lotta gospel hereabouts-- hey, join up if you ain't!

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody wants to go to heaven
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 02:03 PM

Yes - you know me - but a couple of knotheads from here convinced me not to come around. My daughter is safely home from Iraq and her husband is due home 03 December. My Brother is still in Afghanistan - ring any bells??

I come around for a song when I need it - Hope your holiday is a good one -

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody wants to go to heaven
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 02:14 PM

Hi, sweetie. Been wondering how youse doin'. Screw knotheads, anyhow. You outrank 'em. Good news on fambly too.... God be praised, and safe return all.

I have zillions of songs. You can always drop me a line if you run outten' 'em. Heck I even have most of them on tape by now! Zillions!   And I will not be undersold!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody wants to go to heaven
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 02:50 PM

This song has been running through my head, ever since I first saw the thread title - but I couldn't figure out the name of the group that was singing in my head. I looked it up on Amazon today - it's on the "Joy Across the Land" album from the Limeliters. It's also on the album called "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" by Alison Krauss and the Cox Family, but apparently their recording doesn't have the ability to imprint itself on my memory. I also have "It's a Small World" and many beer commercial jingles imprinted there, so an inability to imprint may not be a bad thing. Looks like the song was a standard for Loretta Lynn, too.
The Limeliters CD is good, though - 23 cuts from 1976-76 reunion tours with Glenn Yarbrough.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN (jazz)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 09:16 PM

A jazz song called EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN (BUT NOBODY WANTS TO DIE) is sung at breakneck speed by Rhiannon on "Flight." Here are the lyrics from Rhiannon's web site. They call it "public domain as best we can tell."

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN (BUT NOBODY WANTS TO DIE)

Everybody wants to go to heaven. Nobody wants to die.
Everybody wants to know the reason without even asking why.
Everybody wants to be the one to laugh. Nobody wants to cry.
Everybody wants to hear the truth but people keep on telling lies.
Everybody wants to know the reason without even asking why.
Everybody wants to go to heaven. Nobody wants to die.

Everybody wants to be the winner. Nobody wants to play.
Everybody wants to live tomorrow but nobody likes living today.
Everybody wants to go first class. Nobody wants to pay.
Everybody wants to get all the love they can. Nobody gives any love away.
Everybody wants to be a winner. nobody wants to play.
Everybody wants to live tomorrow but nobody likes living today.

Everybody wants to be a light. Nobody wants to shine.
Everybody wants to borrow the car, but nobody wants to pay the fine.
Everybody wants to be in love. Nobody wants to stay.
Everybody wants to buy a house, but nobody's got any money.
Everybody wants to borrow the car, but nobody wants to pay the fine.
Everybody wants to be a light, but nobody, until right now, and you just might be ready to shine.

However, as far as I can tell from a sound sample, Ellen McIlwaine sings the same lyrics on "Up from the Skies: The Polydor Years," but there it is attributed to Al Fields, Tom Delaney, and Timmie Rogers.

Subject: Lyr Add: EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN (blues)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 10:42 AM

According to this web page, this blues song was written by Don Nix and performed by Albert King:

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN

Everybody wants to laugh, ah, but nobody wants to cry.
I said, everybody wants to laugh, but nobody wants to cry.
Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

Everybody wants to hear the truth, but yet everybody wants to tell a lie.
I said everybody wants to hear the truth, but still they all want to tell a lie.
Ah, everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

Everybody wants to know the reason without even asking why.
Oh, everybody wants to know the reason, all without even asking why.
You know, everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

[I seem to recall the phrase "Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die" being used as a refrain in a song by Cab Calloway, but I have been unable to find it on the Internet. If I had to guess, I would say it was more like this song than the others I have found with the same title.]

Subject: Lyr Add: EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN (gospel)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 10:44 AM

Here are the gospel song lyrics copied from http://www.luma-electronic.cz/lp/l/Lynn/loretta_hymns.htm with some corrections by me.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN
(Loretta Lynn)
« © '65 Sure-Fire Music »

Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.
Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.

Once upon a time, there lived a man and his name was Hezekiah.
He walked with God both day and night but he didn't want to die.
He cried, "O Lord, please let me live. Death is close, I know."
God smiled down on Hezekiah and gave him fifteen years to go.

CHORUS: Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.
Lord, I want to go to heaven but I don't want to die.
Though I long for the day when I'll have new birth,
Still I love a-livin' here on earth.
Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.

When Jesus lived here on this earth, He knew His Father's plan.
He knew that He must give His life to save the soul of man.
When Judas had betrayed him, the Father heard him cry.
He was brave until His death but He didn't want to die. CHORUS

[Sung by Loretta Lynn on "Hymns," 1965, and other albums. Also recorded by Patsy Cline, and by Alison Krauss & The Cox Family on "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow," 1994.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody wants to go to heaven
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Dec 03 - 02:06 PM

"I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" by Alison Krauss and the Cox Family

That's where I heard it. They play it too fast for my liking. Thanks again for the words -

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody wants to go to heaven
From: GUEST,Facts
Date: 26 Mar 11 - 12:02 AM

Who sang this song originally? I heard it many years ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Everybody wants to go to heaven
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 03:20 PM

A recording of EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN by The Three Bars was announced in Billboard in October, 1950.

A review in Billboard of a live performance in New York by Tommy Dorsey's band, with vocalist Frances Irvin, says they performed it on November 9, 1950. (Dorsey also recorded it, but I haven't been able to establish the date.)

Billboard announced a recording by Les Brown's Band of Renown, with vocalist Butch Stone, on February, 16, 1952.

However, I suspect the song, or some version of it, or at least some song with that refrain, is older than that, but those are the oldest recordings or documented performances I can find.

Subject: ADD Version: Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 11 - 02:07 AM

Jim,

Here are the lyrics sung by Butch Stone in the Les Brown recording you mentioned:

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN

Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to die!
Everybody says they're not afraid; I wonder why?
They say they can't wait for the day, but when it comes, they want to stay!
Yes, everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to die!

I'm telling ya, everybody wants to go to Heaven, but nobody wants to die!
Everybody says they'd go right now, but how they lie!
They want to see the Promised Land, but dyin' for it ain't too grand.
Yes, everybody wants to go to Heaven, hmm, but nobody wants to die.

Everybody wants to get up there, but nobody wants to give it up!
Everybody wants to meet St. Pete; well, that's all reet!
But they'd call the doctor when they're sick and say, "Please cure me, quick, quick, quick!"
Everybody wants to go to Heaven, oh, but nobody wants to die!

I tell you, folks, it's a phenomenum-num-num-num-num!
Everybody wants to go there, but nobody wants to expire!
Everybody wants to hear angels sing in the sky.
Now, I must admit, I'm just like you; I'm stallin' on that journey, too!
Everybody wants to go to Heaven, oh, but nobody wants to die!

Everybody wants to sprout wings, but nobody wants to kick the bucket!
Now, they know darn well they gotta die to get up there, still they try to duck it!
Now, they know that Gabriel with his horn can blow, but they'd rather stay here and dig ol' Satchmo!
Everybody wants to go to Heaven, oh, but nobody wants to die!
I said no-no-no-no-nobody wants to die!

Subject: ADD Version: Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
From: GUEST,Guest: ketchdana
Date: 27 May 11 - 12:53 AM

There is a barbershop song/arrangement which leaves the "punch line" to the very end:


EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN
Composed and Arranged by Louis P. Perry (Lou), 1983

There was a little white church in the valley, all covered with ivy vines,
All the people were dressed in their Sunday best and sitting in the pews on time.
The preacher got ready for his sermon, the inspiring message of the day,
He held up his hand and then he began, and this is what he had to say:

[CHORUS]
"Ev'rybody wants to go to Heaven, to that home up in the sky,
Ev'rybody want to see the pearly gates in the sweet bye and bye.
Ev'rybody want to go walking on the streets all paved with gold,
And eat milk and honey at the table of the Lord and be a member of the Heavenly fold.
You all go to church on Sunday, and you like to lend a helping hand,
And ev'rybody's nice to his neighbor, so he can make it to the promised land,
Ev'rybody want to cross the Jordan to that mansion in the sky."
I said, "Ev'rybody wants to go to Heaven,
But nobody wants to die!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
From: Johnny J
Date: 12 Jun 20 - 06:28 AM

This is another song with the same name.

Featuring the singing triplets The Karlins from Edinburgh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGwX1PrVEFA

Subject: Lyr Add: EV’RYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN (Dorsey)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 May 21 - 05:44 PM

You can hear this version at the Internet Archive or on YouTube.
My transcription:


EV’RYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN (But Nobody Wants To Die)
(Timmie Rogers, Al Fields, Tom Delaney)
As recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, with vocal by Sy Oliver, Decca 27248, 1950.

Now, ev’rybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.
Ev’rybody says they’re not afraid, but they act shy.
They say they can’t wait for the day,
But when it comes they want to stay.
Evrybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

That’s the trouble now—

Ev’rybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.
Ev’rybody says they’d go right now; believe me, that’s a lie.
They want to see the promised land,
But dyin’ for it ain’t too grand.
Let ‘em in! – Nobody wants to die.

[scat] … all go to heaven – nobody wants to die.
They’d like to hear the angels sing up in the sky,
But then they call the doctor when they’re sick
And say: “Please cure me, quick, quick, quick!”
I must admit I’m just like you:
I’m stallin’ on that journey too.
We know that Gabriel can blow,
But we’d rather listen to old Satchmo.
Ev’rybody wants to go to heaven
But nobody—
No, nobody—
Nobody wants to die.

Subject: Lyr Add: TOUT LE MONDE VEUT ALLER AU CIEL
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 May 21 - 06:30 PM

You can hear this recording on YouTube. I found the lyrics online at LyricsTranslate.com. I’m afraid I’m not fluent enough in French to vouch for this transcription being 100% correct, but it looks pretty good.


TOUT LE MONDE VEUT ALLER AU CIEL (Mais Personne Ne Veut Mourir)
As recorded by Petula Clark on “C’est Ma Chanson”

1. Je voudrais être un ange et puis vivre au Paradis.
Là tout le monde est heureux, il y fait beau à ce qu'on dit.
J'aimerais faire le voyage un jour, ce qui m'inquiète un peu.
Y a pas de ticket pour le retour du Paradis tout bleu.

[CHORUS] Tout le monde veut aller au ciel, oui, mais personne ne veut mourir.
Personne ne veut mourir. Personne ne veut mourir.
Tout le monde veut aller au ciel, oui, mais personne ne veut mourir.
Personne, personne, personne ne veut mourir.

2. Mon oncle est un avare, il se meurt de privations.
Il a une fortune en banque, il est riche à millions.
Son docteur dit qu'il va mourir, mon oncle dit: "Oh non—
Moi, je me refuse à partir en laissant les millions." [CHORUS]

3. J'ai fait le rêve étrange que je partais pour le ciel.
Je me suis trouvée toute seule au désert éternel.
Je n'ai vu que Saint-Pierre à la porte avec les larmes aux yeux.
Il m'a expliqué pourquoi il était si malheureux. [CHORUS]

Subject: Lyr Add: ALLE LEUTE WOLLEN IN DEN HIMMEL
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 May 21 - 06:52 PM

You can also hear this version on YouTube. Transcription found here. The same caveat applies, only more so.


ALLE LEUTE WOLLEN IN DEN HIMMEL (aber sterben wollen sie nicht)
(As recorded by Petula Clark on “These Are My Songs”)

1. Ich wär so gern ein Engel und dann im Paradies,
denn hier auf dieser Erde, da ist so vieles mies.
Ich mache gern die Reise und schnall mir Flügel an,
doch so, daß ich gegebenenfalls zurück zur Erde kann.

[CHORUS] Alle Leute wollen in den Himmel, aber sterben wollen sie nicht,
no-no, das wollen sie nicht, no-no, das wollen sie nicht.
Alle Leute wollen in den Himmel, aber wie und wann und wo,
das ist das, das ist das, das ist das Risiko.

2. Mein Onkel ist ein Geizhals, ein Geizhals in Person,
es wächst sein Konto auf der Bank pro Monat 'ne Million.
Mein Onkel hat ein Bundeskreuz der Bundesrepublik,
nun möcht er auch den Himmel haben, doch wie kommt er zurück. [CHORUS]

3. Ich hör die Leute reden so manchmal Papperlapapp
ob ich wohl ausser meinem Mann noch einen Anderen hab.
Dann könnt ich in die Wolken gehen und spuck von oben raus,
denn ich weiß, ich komm auch im Himmel ohne ihn nicht aus. [CHORUS]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
From: Monique
Date: 21 May 21 - 12:41 PM

Jim, the French lyrics are accurate and so is the translation.