Norman Joel Greenbaum (born November 20, 1942) is an American singer-songwr… Read Full Bio ↴Norman Joel Greenbaum (born November 20, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter. He is best known for writing and performing the 1969 song “Spirit in the Sky”.

Greenbaum was born in Malden, Massachusetts. He was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household and attended Hebrew school at Congregation Beth Israel. His initial interest in music was sparked by southern blues music and the folk music that was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He performed with various bands in high school and studied music at Boston University for two years. In college he performed at local coffeehouses but eventually dropped out and moved to Los Angeles in 1965.

Greenbaum is best known for his song "Spirit in the Sky". The song, with its combination of 'heavy' guitar, hand-clapping, and spiritual lyrics, was released by Reprise Records in 1969. It sold two million copies in 1969 and 1970, and received a gold disc from the R.I.A.A. It has subsequently been used in many films, advertisements, and television shows.

Although "Spirit in the Sky" has a clear Christian theme, Greenbaum was and remains an observant Jew. Greenbaum says he was inspired to write the song after watching country singers singing a song on television. In an interview Greenbaum stated that western movies were the real inspiration for "Spirit in the Sky".

Though Greenbaum is generally regarded as a one-hit wonder, several of his records placed prominently in the charts, including "Canned Ham" in 1970, which reached number 46 on the Billboard pop chart. In 1966, under the name Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band, he recorded the novelty hit "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago". In the 1960s Greenbaum also performed under the name Bruno Wolf with the Jim Kweskin Jug Band.

Greenbaum has been a long-time resident of Santa Rosa, California. He was critically injured when the car in which he was a passenger made a left turn in the path of a motorcycle on Occidental Road on March 28, 2015, killing the motorcyclist and also injuring the motorcycle passenger. Greenbaum has since gone back to performing.

Canned Ham
Norman Greenbaum Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you gonna buy me a canned ham
I've been waiting so long
When you gonna buy it
When you gonna satisfy me

When you gonna buy me a canned ham
I've been waiting so long
When you gonna buy it

When you gonna satisfy me

I like a canned ham baby (baby)
Canned ham that's for me
When I think about it
Sends me into ecstasy

Put it in a skillet
Fry it nice and brown
Put it in my pocket
Gonna carry it around & around & around & around

When you gonna buy me a canned ham
I've been waiting so long
When you gonna buy it
When you gonna satisfy me

When you gonna buy me a canned ham
I've been waiting so long
When you gonna buy it
When you gonna satisfy me

I like a canned ham baby (baby)
Canned ham that's for me
When I think about it
Sends me into ecstasy

Put it in a skillet
Fry it nice and brown
Put it in my pocket
Gonna carry it around & around & around & around

Been waiting, I've been waiting so long

When you gonna buy me that canned ham Greenbaum?
Someday

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Norman Greenbaum's song Canned Ham are relatively straightforward, though some may find them a bit perplexing. The first verse establishes the central theme of the song, as the singer complains about how long they've been waiting for someone to buy them a canned ham. While the request may seem strange at first, it becomes clear that the singer considers the canned ham a special treat, one that they've longed for but haven't yet received. The repetition of the phrase "When you gonna buy it" highlights the singer's impatience and desire for immediate satisfaction.

The second verse clarifies the singer's feelings towards canned ham, as they declare their love for the food in no uncertain terms. The singer seems to be in a state of ecstasy just thinking about it, which underscores the importance and value they place on this simple pleasure. The next lines suggest that the singer has a particular way of preparing their canned ham, as they envision frying it in a skillet until it's nice and brown. The final line of the verse reinforces the idea that canned ham is an essential part of the singer's life, as they plan to carry it around with them wherever they go.

Overall, it seems that the song is a lighthearted ode to a specific type of food that the singer feels passionately about. While some listeners may find the lyrics silly or nonsensical, they can also be seen as a celebration of the simple pleasures in life that can bring us joy.

Line by Line Meaning

When you gonna buy me a canned ham
Asking someone when and if they will satisfy his desire of canned ham

I've been waiting so long
Expressing his longing for canned ham

When you gonna buy it
Reiterating his desire for canned ham and asking when it will be fulfilled

When you gonna satisfy me
Expressing his desire to be satisfied with canned ham

I like a canned ham baby (baby)
Expressing his fondness for canned ham

Canned ham that's for me
Specifying his preference for canned ham

When I think about it
Contemplating how much he likes canned ham

Sends me into ecstasy
Expressing how happy it makes him to think about canned ham

Put it in a skillet
Indicating how he might cook the canned ham

Fry it nice and brown
Giving details on how he likes his canned ham to be cooked

Put it in my pocket
Jokingly suggesting he wants to keep canned ham with him all the time