The group features Frazey Ford (guitar, vocals), Samantha Parton (guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals) and Trish Klein (electric guitar, banjo, harmony vocals). Jolie Holland is a former member and also a frequent guest.
The story of the groups begins in early-to-mid ’90s in the Kootenay Mountains outside of British Columbia, where caravans of tree planters toiled each year to replenish the rich Canadian forests that suffer abuse by the lumber industry. Ford and Parton lived the vagabond lifestyle and made a rudimentary living as tree planters during the summer months and doing other odd jobs or traveling during the winters. When they met at a tree planters’ camp, they discovered a mutual love of music, but ultimately went their separate ways.
A few years later, Klein and Ford hooked up when both were attending music school in Nelson, British Columbia. For a time, the three of them headed in different directions: Ford went to Montreal and then Guatemala, Klein to Vancouver, and Parton traveled south through America with her dog Sherpa by her side, eventually settling in New Orleans. Chance brought the trio back together in Vancouver in the winter of 1999. By this time, each had been experimenting with many different styles of music – Ford was in a trip hop band in Montreal, Klein and Ford later formed the soul/folk band Saltwater June in Vancouver, and Parton had been touring the back roads of America with spoken word punk poet Chris Chandler as well as her country-duo side project, The Illegitimate Daughters of Johnny Cash.
Their luminous debut, ‘Blue Horse was named one of 2002′s Top 50 albums by Britain’s Q Magazine. The albums "Chinatown" followed in 2003 and "Hello Love" in 2006.
In 2008 the band took a break from touring and recording. Ford released her debut solo album, "Obadiah", in 2010. The band is scheduled to play the 2011 Winnipeg Folk Festival.
In My Time of Dying
The Be Good Tanyas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i don't want nobody to moan
all i want my friends to do
come and fold my dying arms
well, well, well so i can die easy
jesus gonna make up my dying bed
won't you meet me in the middle of the air
and if these wings should fail me lord
won't you meet me with another pair
well, well, won't you meet me jesus
jesus gonna make up my dying bed
i'm going on down to the river
stick my sword up in the sand
gonna shout my troubles over lord
i done made it to the promised land
well, well, well i done crossed over
jesus gonna make up my dying bed
ever since i've been acquainted with jesus
we haven't been a minute apart
he placed the receiver in my ear
threw religion in my heart
well, well, well i can ring up my jesus
jesus gonna make up my dying bed
The Be Good Tanyas's song, In My Time of Dying, is a cover of an old spiritual, which has been interpreted and performed by a number of artists over the years. The song speaks of death and the desire for a peaceful passing without mourning from others. The singer invites their friends to come and fold their arms at their time of death, instead of crying and moaning over their departure. The idea behind this is to create a space of calm and acceptance, rather than sadness and despair.
The second verse talks about the hope of an easy death with the help of Jesus. The singer calls out to Jesus to meet them in the middle of the air, where they expect to receive a new pair of wings in case their existing wings fail them. Here, the emphasis is on the belief that Jesus will provide them with a smooth and successful passage into the afterlife if they put their faith in him.
In the last verse, the singer says they are heading down to the river to wash their troubles away and make it to the promised land. They talk about their relationship with Jesus, who they have been acquainted with, and who has kept them from the path of religion. The song ends with the assurance that they can call on Jesus anytime, even at the time of their death, and that he will take care of them.
Line by Line Meaning
well in my time of dying
As I face death, I do not want anyone to express sorrow.
i don't want nobody to moan
I do not want anyone to grieve in my passing.
all i want my friends to do
I only request that my loved ones help me prepare for death.
come and fold my dying arms
I ask that those close to me tend to my physical needs as I approach the end of my life.
well, well, well so i can die easy
If my wishes are honored, I will be able to feel more at peace about my impending death.
jesus gonna make up my dying bed
While I pass on, Jesus will provide me with the comfort I need.
won't you meet me jesus, meet me
As I make my way towards Heaven, I hope to reunite with Jesus.
won't you meet me in the middle of the air
I hope to be greeted by Jesus upon my journey towards Heaven.
and if these wings should fail me Lord
If I am unable to fly with wings towards Heaven, I still hope for Jesus' assistance.
won't you meet me with another pair
May Jesus provide me with another means of ascending towards Heaven if my original plan fails.
i'm going on down to the river
I plan to baptize myself and cleanse myself of any sins before the end of my life.
stick my sword up in the sand
I will plant a sword in the ground symbolizing the conclusion of any struggles or obstacles I may have experienced in life.
gonna shout my troubles over Lord
I will celebrate my victory over any past burdens and shout praises to the Lord.
i done made it to the promised land
I have reached the place I have been striving for throughout my life.
well, well, well I done crossed over
I have succeeded in crossing over to the afterlife.
ever since i've been acquainted with Jesus
Since I first met Jesus, we have had a close relationship.
we haven't been a minute apart
Throughout my life, I have felt Jesus' presence and guidance every step of the way.
he placed the receiver in my ear
Jesus has been actively communicating with me and guiding me to lead a righteous life.
threw religion in my heart
My experiences with Jesus have instilled a strong faith in me and a desire to live a Christian life.
well, well, well I can ring up my Jesus
I can call upon Jesus at any time for support and guidance.
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
I know that in my final moments, Jesus will provide me with comfort and care.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ΑΝΤΙ'
Well in my time of dying
I don't want nobody to mourn
All I want my friends to do
Come and fold my dying arms
Well, well, well so I can die easy
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
Won't you meet me Jesus, meet me
Won't you meet me in the middle of the air
And if these wings should fail me, Lord
Won't you meet me with another pair
Well, well, won't you meet me Jesus
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
I'm going on down to the river
Stick my sword up in the sand
Gonna shout my troubles over Lord
I done made it to the promised land
Well, well, well I done crossed over
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
Ever since I've done acquainted with Jesus
We haven't been a minute apart
He placed the receiver in my ear
Threw religion in my heart
Well, well, well I can ring up my Jesus
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
Mrs. Hudson
Wonderful video and an equally wonderful rendition of a classic song.I'm impressed and I'm absolutely favouriting this.
ΑΝΤΙ'
Well in my time of dying
I don't want nobody to mourn
All I want my friends to do
Come and fold my dying arms
Well, well, well so I can die easy
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
Won't you meet me Jesus, meet me
Won't you meet me in the middle of the air
And if these wings should fail me, Lord
Won't you meet me with another pair
Well, well, won't you meet me Jesus
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
I'm going on down to the river
Stick my sword up in the sand
Gonna shout my troubles over Lord
I done made it to the promised land
Well, well, well I done crossed over
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
Ever since I've done acquainted with Jesus
We haven't been a minute apart
He placed the receiver in my ear
Threw religion in my heart
Well, well, well I can ring up my Jesus
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed
Christopher Willams
Paradise in Birmingham there IS
THERE is Paradise in Birmingham
We saw those incentive hands
Our pathways railed sit Horizon summit
Christopher Willams
By your side where " " is dwelling '
She was standing right there' ( Aurora)..
Christopher Willams
Come huer...come here
Christopher Willams
Pointes point .......
tar heel
This is one of those songs that come to me every now and then, and this is how I hear it.
1om8cat
One of my favorite BGT tracks. Incredibly tasteful job on the video. Love it!
D D
PHENOMENAL!!! LUV, LUV, LUV this rendition! And all of their music!!
STGBrocks
It`s about time someone did an amazingly beautiful HD video for these ladies..Everybody should watch this on a 24 inch screen (or bigger).