AND WHEN I DIE
blood, sweat, & tears

AND WHEN I DIE
Blood Sweat Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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
And if dying time is near
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
In this world, carry on, to carry on

Now 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 I pray there ain't no hell
But I'll never know by living
Only by dying will tell
Yes, only by dying will tell, yeah
Only my dying will tell

And when I die and when I'm gone
There'll be one child born
In this world to carry on, to carry on

Give me my freedom for as long as I be
All I ask of the 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

Here I go, ah
Hey, hey

Here comes the devil, right behind
Look out children, here he come
Here he come
Hey

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 dead, dead and gone




There'll be one child born
In our world to carry on, to carry on, yeah, yeah

Overall Meaning

The song "And when I die" by Blood Sweat & Tears is a contemplation of death and the afterlife. The singer of the song is not scared of dying, instead they are looking for peace and acceptance in the idea of their own mortality. They express a wish to be buried in a way that reflects their understanding of how cold and bleak the afterlife might be, suggesting that they have little faith in the existence of a heaven or hell.


The singer is also aware of the cycle of life and death, and the importance of leaving a legacy. They believe that one child born after they have died will carry on their memory, and in a way, they will continue to live through that child's existence.


Overall, the song expresses a mixture of fear and bravery, sadness and hope. The singer understands the inevitability of their own death, but they also hold onto a belief that something of themselves will endure through the continuation of life beyond their own.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm not scared of dying
I do not fear death.


And I don't really care
I am indifferent to it.


If it's peace you find in dying,
If dying brings you peace.


Well, then let the time be near
Then let that time come soon.


Just bundle up my coffin cause
Prepare my coffin with care.


It's cold way down there,
The afterlife is said to be cold.


I hear that's it's cold way down there,
I have heard that the afterlife is cold.


Yeah, crazy cold way down there
It is said to be extremely cold in the afterlife.


And when I die and when I'm gone,
After I have passed away.


There'll be one child born
A new life will begin.


In this world to carry on, to carry on
To continue on with life.


Now troubles are many,
Problems are abundant.


They're as deep as a well
They are as profound as a well's depth.


I can swear there ain't no heaven
I am certain there is no heaven.


But I pray there ain't no hell
I hope there is not a place like hell.


But I'll never know by living,
I will not receive answers by being alive.


Only my dying will tell,
Only when I die will I know for sure.


Yeah, Only my dying will tell
Only after death will I receive answers.


Give me my freedom for as long as I be
Freedom is all I want while I am alive.


All I ask of living is to have no chains on me
I ask to be free from any burdens in life.


And all I ask of dying is to go naturally,
I ask to die in a natural way.


Only want to go naturally
All I want is to pass away naturally.


Here I go, ah
I am ready to pass away.


Here comes the devil, right behind
The devil is believed to follow death.


Look out children, here he come
Be cautious, death is near.


Don't want to go by the devil,
I do not want to be guided by the devil.


Don't want to go by the demon,
I do not want to be guided by a demon.


Don't want to go by Satan,
I do not want to be guided by Satan.


Don't want to die uneasy,
I do not want to die feeling uncomfortable.


Just let me go naturally
Let me pass away in a natural way.


And when I die and when I'm dead, dead and gone,
After I have passed away.


There'll be one child born,
A new life will begin.


In our world to carry on, to carry on
To continue with life.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Laura Nyro

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

木倉谷哲也

Lyrics:

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
Well then, dying time is near
Just bundle up my coffin
'Cause it's cold way down there
I hear that 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
In this world
To carry on, to carry on

Now 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 I'll pray there ain't no hell
But I'll never know by livin'
Only my dyin' will tell, yes, only my dyin' will tell, oh yeah
Only my dyin' will tell

And when I die, and when I'm gone
There'll be, one child born
In this world
To carry on, to carry on
Yeah, yeah

Give me my freedom
For as long as I be
All I ask of livin'
Is to have no chains on me
All I ask of livin'
Is to have no chains on me
And all I ask of dyin' is to
Go naturally, only wanna
Go naturally
Here I go!
Hey, hey
Here come the devil
Right behind
Look out, children
Here he come
Here he come, hey-yy

Don't wanna go by the devil
Don't wanna go by the demon
Don't wanna go by Satan
Don't wanna die uneasy
Just let me go
Naturally

And when I die, and when I'm dead
Dead and gone
There'll be
One child born, in our world
To carry on, to carry on
Yeah, yeah



All comments from YouTube:

Russ S

David Clayton Thomas is a very underrated vocalist...very powerful voice.

johnnie soesbee

Never thought he was underrated, seeing as how BST, was a musical powerhouse 🤔😒

K V

@johnnie soesbeeexactly, underrated comments are overrated.

Jerry Browne

Underated? When were you born?

4 More Replies...

Kenneth Sawyer

This song, deep down, lets me know every things going to be all right.

Perry Conrad

Yep

Sean Vincent

😂Yesss😂Sure'e😂

Ed T

Amen to that!!

kungfuman78

This song was played 50 years ago today (July 31) at the funeral of Bruce Lee. He was laid to rest that same day in Seattle, 1973. May he rest in peace...

Semper Fidelis

This is a legendary song!

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