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.
Petaluma
Norman Greenbaum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We got chickens in the trees
Chicken in the pots of all the
Petalumees
Oh, I'm out in Petaluma
Spending' my days
Oh, I'm out in Petaluma
Tell me how many eggs will a chicken lay
Oh Marvin got me started
Gave me my first hen
And now I got four and twenty
And twenty four more again
Oh, I'm out in Petaluma
Spending' my days
Oh, I'm out in Petaluma
Spending' my days
Tell me how many eggs will a chicken lay
It's chicken in the morning
It's chicken in the night
If it weren't for chicken Petaluma
Never woulda reached its height
Oh, I'm out in Petaluma
Spending' my days
Oh, I'm out in Petaluma
Spending' my days
Tell me how many eggs will a chicken lay
The lyrics of this song are centered around Petaluma, a city in California. Petaluma is known for its poultry industry and the song reflects this by mentioning the presence of chicken in the city. The lyrics describe how there are chickens in the houses, trees, and pots of the locals. The singer acknowledges Marvin who introduced him to raising chickens and now he has over 48 of them. The chorus repeatedly mentions the singer's location in Petaluma and poses a question about the number of eggs a chicken can lay.
The repetition of the phrase "chickens in the houses...chickens in the trees..." emphasizes the widespread presence of poultry in Petaluma. The reference to Marvin and his help in getting the chickens may indicate that raising chickens is a popular hobby in the city. The song also seems to acknowledge the importance of the poultry industry in Petaluma's economy. Without chicken, the city may not have achieved its level of success.
Line by Line Meaning
Got chickens in the houses
Petaluma is a place with lots of chickens indicated by the presence of these fowls in the houses.
We got chickens in the trees
The presence of chickens on trees which is unusual but common in Petaluma.
Chicken in the pots of all the Petalumees
Petaluma being a poultry city, almost every household cooks chicken.
Oh, I'm out in Petaluma Spending' my days
Norman Greenbaum is presently in Petaluma where he spends most of his time doing whatever activities, probably related to chickens.
Tell me how many eggs will a chicken lay
Greenbaum is curious about the productivity of the chickens in Petaluma probably because of the importance and abundance of these fowls in the area.
Oh Marvin got me started Gave me my first hen
Greenbaum got inspired or motivated by Marvin to start rearing chickens which signifies how Petaluma's poultry industry creates employment and encourages entrepreneurship.
And now I got four and twenty And twenty four more again
Greenbaum now owns a lot of chickens showing how lucrative and profitable poultry farming is in Petaluma.
It's chicken in the morning It's chicken in the night
Petaluma's poultry industry is so extensive that you can find or eat chicken any time of the day.
If it weren't for chicken Petaluma Never woulda reached its height
Chicken farming is the main driver of Petaluma's economic and cultural growth and is accountable for its current status and popularity.
Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Deanna L Dial
I just discovered this song, and I absolutely love it!!! It’s a fun, light hearted song that makes me smile.
Juicy Meloncamp
So nice to have a song about my home town
MemorySparksJoy
I grew up in Petaluma... Lived there in the the 60s and 70s. I miss the vibe and this song reminds me... 💖💝💖
Pattons Place
He may have been known as a one hit wonder but he had a lot of really good and some great songs. Check out: Petaluma, Marcy, Skyline, The Day They Sold Beer In Church, Canned Ham, The Day The Well Went Dry, Back Home Again, Hook And Ladder, California Earthquake, The Eggplant That Ate Chicago... So many fun/funky gospel rock songs.
Diana vay
Love it, love Petaluma ❤️
EviLHearT
Wonderful.. (Y)
in my opinion Norman Greenbaum is/was much underrated
sue girard
@Abraham Saks a musician's musician
Abraham Saks
was too folksy for most people even back in the hippie days. I love this song actually.
Shaun Bidois
EviLHearT agreed 110%
cosmo naut
Ry Cooder plays on this tune with Norman.