History:
1926: Reverend J. C. Burnett recorded Jesus Is Going to Make Up Your Dying Bed in 1926, but it was never released.
1928: Blind Willie Johnson recorded the song as Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed as a gospel blues song.
1928: Reverend B.J. Hill and the Jubilee Gospel Team recorded Lower My Dying Head as a cappela song.
1929: Charlie Patton recorded a version with somewhat different lyrics as "Jesus Is A-Dying Bed Maker"
1932: Martha Emmons published a nine-stanza, nine-refrains, version that she heard in Waco, Texas, under the title "Tone de Bell Easy"
1933: Josh White recorded the song as Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed. White later recorded it between 1944 and 1946 as "In My Time of Dying", which inspired several popular versions.
1962: Bob Dylan included a version titled In My Time of Dyin’ on his album titled Bob Dylan.
In My Time of Dying is the 3rd track on side one of Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti, which was released February 24, 1975. At just over 11 minutes it’s the longest studio track by Led Zeppelin. The very end of In My Time of Dying features John Bonham’s off-mic cough, causing the rest of the group to break into laughter.
Jimmy Page had the following to say about In My Time of Dying during a May 1993 interview with Brad Tolinski of Guitar World:
W: "If Houses of the Holy was one of your tightest productions, then Physical Graffiti is one of your loosest. Did you make a conscious decision to retreat from a highly polished sound?”
Page: "Yes, but not completely. In My Time of Dying is a good example of something more immediate. It was just being put together when we recorded it. It is jammed at the end and we do not even have a proper way to stop the thing. But I just thought it sounded like a working group. We could have tightened it up, but I enjoyed its edge.”
Sources: WordPress and Wikipedia
In My Time of Dying
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I want for you to do is take my body home
Well, well, well, so I can die easy
Well, well, well, so I can die easy
Jesus, gonna make up/out siviers
Jesus, gonna make up my dyin' bed
Oh meet me in the middle of the air
If my wings should fail me, Lord
Oh please meet me with another pair
Well, well, well, so I can die easy
Well, well, well, so I can die easy
Jesus, gonna make up
Somebody, somebody
Oh, oh Jesus gonna make up
Jesus gonna make you my dyin' bed
Oh, Saint Peter, at the gates of heaven
Won't you let me in
I never did no harm
I never did no wrong
Oh, Gabriel, let me blow your horn
Let me blow your horn
Oh, I never did, did no harm
I've only been this young once
I never thought I'd do anybody no wrong
No, not once
Oh, I did somebody some good
Somebody some good yeah
Oh, did somebody some good yeah
I must have did somebody some good yeah
Oh I believe I did
I see the smiling faces
I know I must have left some traces
And I see them in the streets
And I see them in the field
And I hear them shouting under my feet
And I know it's got to be real
Oh, Lord, deliver me
All the wrong I've done
You can deliver me, Lord
I only wanted to have some fun
Hear the angels marchin'
Hear the' marchin', hear them marchin'
Hear them marchin', the' marchin'
(Oh my Jesus)
It's got to be my Jesus
Oh, it's got to be, it's got to be my Jesus
it's got to be my oh
it's got to be my Jesus
Oh take me home
Come on, come on I can hear the answer, sing it
Oh, here they come
Here they come
Here they come
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
Oh, feels pretty good, don't you?
Pretty good, I feel
(Oh, Georgina)
(Oh)
Oh, yeah
Oh, I see him
Come on
(Take it)
Oh, don't you make it my dyin', dyin', dyin'
Cough, "that's gonna be the one, isn't it?"
"Come have a listen, then"
Oh yes, thank you
The song "In My Time of Dying" is a traditional gospel piece that has been given a rock makeover by Led Zeppelin. The lyrics are about a person who is nearing the end of their life and does not want anyone to mourn them. They ask that their body be taken home so they can die easy. The person calls on Jesus to make up their dying bed and to meet them in the middle of the air if their wings should fail. They also call on Saint Peter to let them in at the gates of heaven and on Gabriel to let them blow his horn. The person acknowledges that they have done some good in their life and sees the smiling faces of those they have helped, but they also know that they have done wrong and ask for deliverance from their mistakes. The song ends with the person hearing angels marching towards them and feeling ready to pass on.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was recorded live in the studio with minimal overdubs. This added to the raw and authentic feel of the song. Another fact is that it was one of the longest songs ever recorded by Led Zeppelin, with a runtime of over 11 minutes. The song has been covered by several other artists, including Bob Dylan, who has performed his own version at concerts. The song's main riff was later sampled in Jay-Z's song "99 Problems". Jimmy Page has said that the song was one of his favorites to perform live with the band. The song has also been interpreted as a commentary on the Vietnam War, as it was released during the height of the war and contains several lines that could be seen as anti-war sentiments.
In terms of chords, "In My Time of Dying" is played in an open tuning (Open G) and features a repetitive bluesy riff. The chords used in the song are G5, C5, and D5. The song also features a slide guitar solo that is played in a call and response style between Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.
Chords:
G5 (3X0033)
C5 (X35533)
D5 (X577XX)
Note: The X in the above chords means you do not have to play that string.
Line by Line Meaning
In my time of dying, want nobody to mourn
I don't want anyone to feel sad when I pass away.
All I want for you to do is take my body home
All I want you to do is take my body home after I die.
Well, well, well, so I can die easy
I want to be able to die easily.
Jesus, gonna make up/out siviers
I believe that Jesus will take care of me when I die.
Jesus, gonna make up my dyin' bed
Jesus will be there for me as I die.
Meet me, Jesus, meet me
I am asking Jesus to come and meet with me.
Oh meet me in the middle of the air
I want Jesus to meet me in the sky.
If my wings should fail me, Lord
If I can't fly, Lord, please help me.
Oh please meet me with another pair
Please give me new wings so I can fly.
Somebody, somebody
I want someone to be there for me.
Oh, oh Jesus gonna make up
Jesus will make things better for me.
Jesus gonna make you my dyin' bed
Jesus will be there for me as I die.
Oh, Saint Peter, at the gates of heaven
I am asking Saint Peter to let me into heaven.
Won't you let me in
Please let me into heaven.
I never did no harm
I never intended to harm anyone.
I never did no wrong
I never did anything wrong.
Oh, Gabriel, let me blow your horn
I want to play music for Gabriel.
Let me blow your horn
I want to play music for you, Gabriel.
I've only been this young once
I know that I'll never be this young again.
I never thought I'd do anybody no wrong
I never intended to hurt anyone.
Oh, Lord, deliver me
I am asking the Lord to save me.
All the wrong I've done
I am admitting to the mistakes I've made.
You can deliver me, Lord
I trust that the Lord will save me.
I only wanted to have some fun
I was just trying to have a good time.
Hear the angels marchin'
I can hear the angels coming.
It's got to be my Jesus
I believe that Jesus will save me.
Oh take me home
I'm ready to go to heaven.
Bye-bye
Goodbye.
Oh, feels pretty good, don't you?
It feels good to know that I'll be saved.
Oh, I see him
I can see Jesus coming for me.
Come on
Let's go, I'm ready.
Oh yes, thank you
I am grateful for everything I have.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Debmeow
on No Quarter
Brilliant, a masterpiece.
robin
on Immigrant Song
i love this
Marie Fenouilliére
on Stairway to Heaven
j'adoreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee