Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
"And When I Die ..."
I was writing a song about dying, when I noticed that everyone who writes or sings about death, dies ... and usually tragically.
Laura Nyro was an American songwriter and singer who achieved critical acclaim in the late 1960s.
A number of artists had hits with her songs, including The 5th Dimension, Peter, Paul and Mary Barbra Streisand, Three Dog Night and Blood, Sweat & Tears (with her song "And When I Die").
Her career stalled in 1975, when her mother passed away with ovarian cancer at age 49.
Laura released her final album of original material in 1993, which sparked reappraisal of her place in popular music, and new offers came in. She developed ovarian cancer and passed away at age 49.
Side Note: I quickly reworked the theme of my tune to be about returning home through space and time (totally not dying). I then dropped the lyrics and turned the melody into a guitar instrumental. That should be safe (youtu.be/1FuUKGrjEGY)!
"And When I Die ..."
I was writing a song about dying, when I noticed that everyone who writes or sings about death, dies ... and usually tragically.
Laura Nyro was an American songwriter and singer who achieved critical acclaim in the late 1960s.
A number of artists had hits with her songs, including The 5th Dimension, Peter, Paul and Mary Barbra Streisand, Three Dog Night and Blood, Sweat & Tears (with her song "And When I Die").
Her career stalled in 1975, when her mother passed away with ovarian cancer at age 49.
Laura released her final album of original material in 1993, which sparked reappraisal of her place in popular music, and new offers came in. She developed ovarian cancer and passed away at age 49.
Side Note: I quickly reworked the theme of my tune to be about returning home through space and time (totally not dying). I then dropped the lyrics and turned the melody into a guitar instrumental. That should be safe (youtu.be/1FuUKGrjEGY)!
