Cochrane was born in Lynn Lake, Manitoba to Violet and Tuck Cochrane, a bush pilot. The family relocated to Etobicoke, Ontario in the West Deane Park area when Tom was four years old. He purchased his first guitar at age 11 by selling a toy train set. He attended Martingrove Collegiate Institute in the 1960's. In the early 1970s, he was performing in coffee houses across Canada. He eventually made his way to Los Angeles where he found a job writing theme music for My Pleasure is My Business, a Xaviera Hollander movie. Unable to find steady income from music, Cochrane returned to Toronto where he drove a taxi cab and later took a job on a Caribbean cruise liner to help pay the bills. Cochrane went back to Los Angeles in 1976, trying to sell his songs to publishers but without success, and returned to Toronto in 1977. Cochrane walked into the El Mocambo club one night in Toronto and came across a band of locals calling themselves Red Rider. After an audition, they agreed to Cochrane joining the band as lead singer and songwriter, a decision that would change their musical careers.
After the Red Rider era, Cochrane set off on his soloist path again. In 1990, Cochrane took his family to West Africa where he helped to raise awareness and money for the World Vision famine relief organization. That experience shaped his next album Mad Mad World which contained the internationally acclaimed hit single "Life is a Highway".
The three-CD box set Ashes to Diamonds, including material by both Red Rider and Cochrane as a solo artist, was released in 1993.
In 1995, he released Ragged Ass Road and followed that with a Canadian tour in 1996. The tour resulted in Songs of a Circling Spirit, a live CD and multi-media package of previously released material.
In June 1999, Cochrane was involved in a light plane crash in Montreal, after his plane's engine stalled just after take-off. Fortunately, no one was injured.
At the 2003 Juno Awards, Tom Cochrane was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The special award ceremony took place April 5, 2003 at Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec. According to the Life Is a Highway Songfacts, his other honors include seven Juno Awards, being an Honorary Colonel in the Canadian Air Force, and having been inducted onto the Canadian Walk of Fame. They take their rock stars seriously in Canada.
In December 2003 he was one of the musical guests on a CBC special called, Rick Mercer's Christmas in Kabul.
He currently lives with his family in Oakville, Ontario.
On July 2, 2005, Cochrane took part in the Live 8 concert series.
Cochrane's new album "No Stranger" recorded in rural Ontario was released in October 2006.
"Life Is A Highway" was re-made in 2006 by the country band Rascal Flatts for the motion picture "Cars" and became a successful country single.
Spirit in the Sky
Tom Cochrane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
Gonna go to the place that's the best
Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best
Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with
The spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best
The lyrics to Tom Cochrane's Spirit In The Sky address the theme of death and the afterlife. The singer expresses his belief that when he dies, he will go to the "place that's the best," which is represented as the "spirit in the sky." He believes that his friend in Jesus will recommend him to this place, and he expresses confidence that he will be set up with the spirit in the sky. The song has a catchy melody and a positive vibe that may suggest a celebration of life beyond death.
The lyrics are open to interpretation and may be seen as expressing a belief in an afterlife or a higher power. The reference to the "spirit in the sky" may be seen as a metaphor for God or heaven. The song may also be seen as an affirmation of faith in Jesus as a means of salvation. The upbeat tone of the music and the lyrics suggest a sense of hope and optimism in the face of death, which may be comforting for those who have lost loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
When I die and they lay me to rest
In the event of my death and subsequent burial...
Gonna go to the place that's the best
...I'd like to end up in the best possible place.
When I lay me down to die
As I approach death...
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
...I believe that my soul will ascend to the heavens.
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Going to the afterlife I believe in.
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
My afterlife destination, as per my beliefs.
When I die and they lay me to rest
Same as line 1.
Gonna go to the place that's the best
Same as line 2.
Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Get ready, it's important...
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
...to be religious and have faith in Jesus.
So you know that when you die
This is so that upon your death...
He's gonna recommend you
...Jesus would recommend you.
To the spirit in the sky
...to ascend to the heavens.
Gonna recommend you
Same as line 12.
That's where you're gonna go when you die
Your soul's ultimate destination, as per your beliefs.
When you die and they lay you to rest
Same as line 1 and 7.
You're gonna go to the place that's the best
Same as line 2 and 8.
Never been a sinner I never sinned
I lead a morally upright life and never committed sins...
I got a friend in Jesus
...and I believe in Jesus.
So you know that when I die
So upon my death...
He's gonna set me up with
...Jesus would facilitate my ascension to heaven.
The spirit in the sky
The heavenly afterlife where my soul would reside.
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
Same as line 23.
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
Same as line 6 and 15.
When I die and they lay me to rest
Same as line 1, 7, and 16.
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
...I hope to be buried in the best possible location.
Go to the place that's the best
Same as line 2 and 8.
Contributed by Jacob I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.