Her first hit in the United States is "Thunder and Lightning," released in May 1972. By August it reached #17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #12 on the U.S. Record World top 100 record chart and U.S. CashBox top 100, #18 on the Canadian RPM magazine charts, and #4 on the German hit list. It drove her first album, "Chi Coltrane", to stay on the charts for three months. The song "Go Like Elijah" also received considerable airplay, and held the #1 position on the Holland hit list for one month.
After her first album was released, she released the album Let It Ride early in 1974 (on the Columbia label), Greatest Hits and Best Of albums in 1975, and in 1977 another album, Road To Tomorrow as well as Silk & Steel in 1981 . She subsequently moved to Europe where she lived for a few years. She was voted Best Female Artist for two consecutive years). She released several albums on the Teldec label during the 1980s,[1] including Live! in 1982 (it reached #12 on the European charts),and Ready to Roll (1983), and The Message (1986). In the European β100 Best Musicians of the Centuryβ list, she was listed in the top 50.[citation needed] Golden Classics was released in November 1996 (Collectibles label). She has done TV soundtrack work, and collaborated with Tangerine Dream in 1991. She returned to Los Angeles in 1993, where she built a recording studio and worked with underprivileged groups.
In 2009 Coltrane resumed her music career, releasing a new compilation "The Essential Chi Coltrane - Yesterday, Today & Forever". The collection featured material from her 1980s albums "Live!", "Ready to Roll", and "The Message". It also contained three new recordings, including the title track which featured a Paul Buckmaster string arrangement.
Coltrane's first comeback performance was a concert in Vienna at the Donounselfest in 2009, where she drew 100,000 people. She then did a tour in Holland in October of 2009. Her CD went to #55 on the charts within two weeks. She then signed with Sony and did another tour in Holland as well as a highly successful tour in Germany. She is now preparing for additional touring in Germany, and another tour in Holland as well as a tour in Switzerland. She has committed to working next on a studio album of new material, to be released in 2012.
Go Like Elijah
Chi Coltrane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When that will be, I do not know
I only know that when I have to go.
Yeah, when I go I wanna go
Just let me go Lord, when I go
Yeah, when I go Lord, let me go
Just let me go like Elijah when I go
And ride white horses with fiery eyes
Lord for my sins I apologize
Just let me go Lord when I go
When my time comes for me to go
Just let me go like Elijah when I go
I don't want no tombstone above my head
And I don't want no pine box for my bed
And I don't want anyone to say I'm dead.
I don't want no one cryin'
Or feelin' sad
Or standin' in the rain without their hat
I wanna go up happy imagine that
Yeah, when I go I wanna go
Just let me go Lord, when I go,
Yeah, when I go Lord, let me go
Just let me go like Elijah when I go
I want to rise right up into the sky
And ride white horses with fiery eyes
Lord for my sins I apologize
Just let me go Lord when I go
When my time comes for me to go
Just let me go like Elijah when I go.
"Go Like Elijah" by Chi Coltrane is a song that talks about death and the desire to depart from this world without leaving a trace behind. The singer acknowledges that no one knows when their time to die will come, but she hopes that, when the time comes, she will leave this world like the prophet Elijah did. She wishes to leave this world in a peaceful and happy state, without any sadness or tears, and ride white horses with fiery eyes that represent strength and power.
The singer shows her humility by apologizing to God for her sins, hoping that He will accept her as she goes. She also makes it clear that she doesn't want any tombstones, pine boxes, or anyone to mourn her death. She wants to go up happy and without any fear, imagining that her departure will be an auspicious and joyful departure. In essence, the song encourages people to embrace death, a natural occurrence that everyone has to face, and make peace with God, hoping for a peaceful and happy end when our time comes.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday my time to die will come.
I acknowledge that death is inevitable and will come to me someday.
When that will be, I do not know
I am uncertain about the timing of my death.
I only know that when I have to go.
While I do not know when I will pass away, when it happens, it will happen.
Yeah, when I go I wanna go
I want to have control over my own death, when the time comes.
Just let me go Lord, when I go
May my death be in God's hands, as I trust in Him.
Yeah, when I go Lord, let me go
When my time comes, may God release me from this world.
Just let me go like Elijah when I go
May I pass away in the way that the prophet Elijah did, being raised up to heaven on a fiery chariot.
I want to rise right up into the sky
I want my death to be a physical ascension into Heaven, as a symbol of my spiritual ascension.
And ride white horses with fiery eyes
May I have a glorious and triumphant entrance into Heaven, depicted as a majestic horse ride.
Lord for my sins I apologize
I humbly ask forgiveness for my sins, in preparation for my eventual passing.
When my time comes for me to go
I acknowledge that I have a finite amount of time on this earth, and one day that time will be up.
I don't want no tombstone above my head
I do not care about physical markers or memorials after I die.
And I don't want no pine box for my bed
I do not need ornate or expensive burial arrangements, as they do not matter to me in death.
And I don't want anyone to say I'm dead.
I prefer to have a peaceful transition into death, without any fuss or fanfare.
I don't want no one cryin'
I want my loved ones to celebrate my life, rather than mourn my death.
Or feelin' sad
I do not want my death to be a source of sadness for those who know me.
Or standin' in the rain without their hat
I do not want anyone to feel obligated to observe traditional mourning practices after I die.
I wanna go up happy imagine that
I want my eventual passing to be a joyful occasion, as I am reunited with God.
Just let me go Lord, when I go,
I trust that when my time comes, God will take me when He sees fit.
Just let me go like Elijah when I go
I desire a death similar to the prophet Elijah, who was taken into Heaven in the most spectacular way possible.
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@corinevanderwerf5136
I heard this as a 10-year old,in bad circumstances at home,
it gave me so much power!
I wrote it fonetically,for not speaking English,but I felt the "galopping horse to freedom"- power! Thanks to ChiπποΈπͺπ»β€
@90daysinvegas53
Hello everyone, this is the very first time I ever heard this song. Wow, it's beautiful! I was born in 1969. I can't believe this song and the images I'm seeing of this beautiful woman singing it are over 50 years ago..
@tonycostanzo4276
Clare Cunningham also sings along this positive GODLY music
@collllroossk
If you listen to this you are a LEGEND.
Why wasn't this a bigger hit in America?
@pleun315
Best funeral song ever βοΈ Go with happy energy and totally in peace β€οΈπ
@eluberimabib4070
Good point
@corinevanderwerf5136
62 years young now ,it still gives ππ₯ππ₯°ππ»
@LAWandCoach
I remember Thunder and lightening, jeez it's been a long time.
@nobodyreally6345
Awesome song, Chi!
God bless you!
John 3:17-18
@IljaRex
thanx Ilja = Elijah in America .. lov'it the music from '60/'70s most