Sam has been dancing since the age of 3, training in Ballet, Modern and Tap. She was also a member of the Manx Operatic Society, which provided her with a lot of performing experience
Her previous work (all in the Isle of Man) includes playing Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, The Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, The Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Dancing in Coppelia, La Boutique Fantasque, La Sylphide, The Nutcracker, Dick Whittington, Cinderella, Robinson Crusoe, Rizzo in Grease, a Hot Box Girl in Guys and Dolls, Cyndi Gibson in Back to the 80s and she understudied Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde.
Sam represented the Isle of Man in the Maltese International Song Competition in 2007, where she won the main prize of €2000 and the title of Best Foreign Singer.
She performed at the 2007 Peel Bay Festival, Isle of Man, supporting the Sugababes and Matt Willis, which also saw appearances by Robin Gibb and Madness.
Sam had a singing role in the ITV1 TV movie, The Final Quest, directed by and starring David Jason.
She moved to London at the tender age of 16 to pursue her dream as a performer, which would not have been possible without the amazing support of the late Mr Patrick Taylor, who dedicated his time and money to Sam, helping her make her dream reality. She started her training at Arts Educational School where she began to study Performing Arts A-Level
Sam came into the public eye when she appeared on the BBC1 show 'I'd Do Anything', searching for an unknown talent to play Nancy in the new West End production of Oliver, where she eventually came 3rd, in 2008. During the competition she got to work with some amazing people including Idina Menzel and Liza Minelli, which has already helped her a lot in her career. The competition provided her with a fantastic opportunity to get a huge head start in the world of performing. She had to drop out of Arts Ed once she got too far in the competition.
She then landed the lead role of Sally Bowles in the UK touring production of 'Cabaret' from 29th Aug 2008 until 11th July 2009, playing in 36 theatres all across the UK and in the Isle of Man. She did over 315 shows without missing a single one.
Sam was then invited out to China to launch the new Manx Ship, the Caly Manx, in Shanghai on 30th September 09.
She then went on to star as Aladdin in panto in Windsor from 9th Dec 2009 until 10th Jan 2010 doing 13 shows a week.
She starred in a Disney TV Series called 'Groove High' where she played the lead role, Zoe.
Sam made her West End debut playing Eponine in Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre in London. She debuted on the 21st June 2010. Sam had been chosen by Cameron Mackintosh to play Eponine in the 25th Anniversary Concert at the 02 Arena on 3rd October 2010. Cameron gave Sam the news that she had been chosen after watching her as Eponine on her opening night in the West End at the Queen's Theatre.
Sam went on to do the UK Tour of Oliver! from 10 December 2011 to 1 April 2012. She left temporarily to film for the 2012 movie of Les Miserables which was announced during a curtain call of Oliver!. She returned to the production days after filming for two weeks. After returning again after other opportunities she officially finished on the 20th of February 2013.
She performed at the 85th academy awards with the cast of Les miserables (2012) on the 24th of February 2013. Shortly after she filmed a film called the Christmas candle.
She played Velma Kelly at the Hollywood bowl production of Chicago in 2013 alongside Ashlee Simpson. In 2014 she starred in a movie called bitter harvest that was filmed in 2013. She also had a role a movie called Dracula untold but her scenes were ultimately cut from the film.
She starred as Avril/Mallory in the City Of Angels revival at the Donmar Warehouse from the 5th of December 2014 to the 7th of February 2015.
She originated the role of Amélie in Amélie at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California which opened on the 29th of August 2015 and had an extended run until the 18th of October 2015.
In 2016 she starred alongside Jonathan Bailey in the Last Five Years at the St.James Theatre as Cathy that ran from October 28th 2016 to December 3rd 2016.
On the 12th of March 2017 she performed in a one off concert of Honeymoon in Vegas. She also starred in the movie interlude in Prague which was released on the 11th of May 2017 in the UK.
She had her first UK solo tour upon release of her self titled album, she played at 13 venues to promote the album and made her American concert debut at Feinstein's/54 Below in New York City during July 2017.
She played Vivian in Pretty Woman the musical in Chicago during March 2018 and played the role on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre in New York from July 20th 2018 to the 21st of July 2019. This marked her Broadway debut,
On the 5 December 2019 it was announced that she would play Elsa in the original West End cast of Frozen the musical, previews started August 27th 2021. Sam is currently still in the production.
During February 2020 she played Florence in Chess at the Umeda Arts Theater in Japan starring alongside Ramon Karimloo.
During 2021 she starred as Casey in a virtual production of First Date the musical. On February 1st 2021 she announced that she was engaged to Pretty Woman co-star Alex Stoll and they got married on the 18th of June 2022.
For three performances she played Florence in Chess at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane from the 1st of August 2022 to the 2nd of August 2022.
In October 2022 Tomorrow Morning the movie was released on DVD which had a previous limited cinema release where she starred as Catherine.
If I Die Young
Samantha Barks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Oh oh oh oh
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had just enough time
If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had just enough time
And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There's a boy here in town says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had just enough time
So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh no I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'
If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Oh oh
The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when your really gonna need 'em oh
The sharp knife of a short life, well
I've had just enough time
So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
Samantha Barks's song "If I Die Young" is a melancholic contemplation on life and death. The song speaks of a young person's untimely death, and the burial arrangements that they would like to be made. The singer requests to be buried in satin, laid down on a bed of roses, and then sunk into a river at dawn while being sent away with the words of a love song. The artist also asks for the Lord to make them a rainbow. The singer believes that their colors would reassure their grieving mother that they are safe with God.
The artist reflects on how life isn't always what it ought to be and that it can be cut short. The sharp knife of a short life is a metaphor used to illustrate how the singer's life was cut short, yet they believe that they had just enough time. Samantha Barks's song delves into the theme of not taking life for granted and the tragedy of dying young. The artist suggests that Funny when you're dead, people start listening, indicating that the singer felt unheard while alive, but their death might draw attention to their message.
Line by Line Meaning
If I die young bury me in satin
If I pass away at a young age, please bury me in a luxurious fabric like satin.
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Place me delicately on a bed of roses as a loving and gentle farewell.
Sink me in the river at dawn
Submerge my body in a river at the crack of dawn when the world is quiet and peaceful.
Send me away with the words of a love song
Let me depart from this world to the sweet and loving sounds of a romantic song.
The sharp knife of a short life, well
The briefness and suddenness of life can be compared to the sharp sting of a knife.
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
If I pass away, please let me become a reflective rainbow that will cast down colors of light over my mother to let her know I'm watching over her.
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and
My mother will feel secure and at peace knowing that I made it to a safe place when she stands under my rainbow colors and feels their warmth.
Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
The ups and downs of life often do not align with the expectations you may have had.
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
Although life is not just black and white, my mother now must come to grips with losing me, her precious child.
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I am still very young and inexperienced in matters of love and life, just like the green ring on my small, cold finger suggests.
I've never known the lovin' of a man
I have yet to experience genuine affection from a significant other.
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
Although I have not experienced love, I still have cherished the sweet moments of holding hands with someone.
There's a boy here in town says he'll love me forever
I have someone in my life who promises to love and care for me eternally.
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The thought that forever love can be abruptly terminated by an unforeseen occurrence is deeply concerning.
So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
At my funeral, please dress in your finest and most distinguished attire, while I'll wear my best pearls.
What I never did is done
I cannot go back and change my mistakes or undo the things I have left undone.
A penny for my thoughts, oh no I'll sell them for a dollar
My thoughts and ideas, which are valuable to me, will become even more valuable to others after I pass away.
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
The relevance and significance of my thoughts and ideas will be amplified after my passing.
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Perhaps only after my death will my TRUE message be heard and understood.
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'
Only in death do others start paying attention to what was said.
The ballad of a dove
My goodbye is like the tranquil cooing of a dove.
Go with peace and love
I wish to depart from the world in peace and love.
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Collect your tears of sadness and store them away where they can be forgotten.
Save them for a time when your really gonna need 'em oh
Keep those tears to release when you need them the most in the future.
Writer(s): KIMBERLY PERRY
Contributed by Eliana I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@elinlung3495
If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh uh oh
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when
She stands under my colours, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it oughta be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well, I've had just enough time
If I die young bury me in satin.
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There's a boy here in town says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh no I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'
If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh (uh oh)
The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save 'em for a time when your really gonna need 'em oh
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
So put on your best boys, and I'll wear my pearls
@caseysewell9859
This is such a beautiful song actually brought me to tears 💖 She is just so talented 👏
@joelynch6098
This cover is so good!
@ClassicRock-gx8hd
I can't get enough of your beautiful voice.
@elinlung3495
If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh uh oh
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when
She stands under my colours, oh and
Life ain't always what you think it oughta be, no
Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well, I've had just enough time
If I die young bury me in satin.
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There's a boy here in town says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh no I'll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'
If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Uh oh (uh oh)
The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save 'em for a time when your really gonna need 'em oh
The sharp knife of a short life,
Well I've had just enough time
So put on your best boys, and I'll wear my pearls
@daphnelina9382
Love Sam 💜 she has such a pretty voice. Like if you agree 👍🏻
@usefulbrokeness1127
As a Tennessean, this a FANTASTIC version of this song! It definitely should get more love! It is neck and neck with The Band Perry's version in my opinion!
@TristanandIsolt
Yes it is, but Kimberley gets all the credit for writing this masterpiece.
@carolinafernandezbarraza8311
Very beautifull album, i love your voice!!!
@rodsella
this cover deserves more love!!! 4 people have no soul lol
@morriganman6336
up there with kerry ellis and elaine paige . it is such greatness we have these women to sing