Laura Nyro- And When I Die

[readytohelll]

I love U Bruce Lee more then my father!!

R.I.P. Bruce Lee The Realest man who ever lived...

[markdeano]

When she offered it to David Clayton Thomas he said, sure I'll take a quick look at it....that quick look made money for a long time and still is, what a deal. She sat in the corner as BS&T practiced in the Village and never made a noise, then one evening during a practice break she asked, would you like to take a look at these 3 songs, they become BS&T hits.

[laurie4kid]

A great, great talent who died way too young. I hope a child WAS born to take her place, to carry on.

[JohanFromIndonesiaTM]

@readytoheaven Yes, they played it on his funeral.

[billduncan411]

Laura was only 17 when she wrote this song.

[soaringvulture]

@billduncan411 Who could write this at 17? Talent, maybe but where did she get the wisdom? She had to be 200 years old to do this. Laura was something else from somewhere else.

Love her.

[goldengirlger]

I am so sorry for your loss. I was with my own Mother when she died at the age of 93, and I still cry and shes been gone almost 5 years. She was my best friend and a wonderful Mom. Try to think of all the laughs you had with her, and the good times.. She is at peace now, and will watch over you. It will take awhile. Just remember how much she loved you and you were the one thing that was not replaceable. A Mothers love is true and constant, the only one that really is.

[windstorm1000]

Her voice, her heart--its the real thing, isn't it.

[millvalleyrn]

@windstorm1000 Yes.. for all time.

[windstorm1000]

I keep on returning to this post--its like the center of the musical universe on YT. So powerful, searing and lovingl. Love Nyro.

[pmurfin]

Go to the Hall Web site and vote for her now! She's in dead last place.

[amysita77]

@pmurfin She's too talented for that commercial shit stain.

[jejones211]

Laura was finally nominated for induction into the rock and roll hall of fame!

[brooksie19]

she's being nominated for intry into the rock n' roll hall of fame...hope she gets in

[JohanFromIndonesiaTM]

R.I.P BRUCE LEE

[EverythingMusic2009]

I think True Blood brought me here, but I'm not sure. Have to wait til next week!

[lisamariemescudi]

@EverythingMusic2009 lol True Blood kinda brought me here, too... this better not be referring to Eric. i know it isn't...but i'm still terrified as motherfuck.

[urface4242]

@lisamariemescudi im thinking jesus. :( or tara...

[Arlgm]

@urface4242 too bad it was both...

[Annaortigara1]

So good. She is so under recognized...

[drev2007]

nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­

[IAmT8X]

is that a trumpet, tuba?? shit is that a band a real fucking band....

[irishace11]

@IAmT8X Sounds like a trombone, doesn't it?

[IAmT8X]

@irishace11 its a big band would you say? not orchestra big you know what i mean..

[IAmT8X]

this girl can sing and with real emotion not like some modern wannabes

[geoffreybeene]

Wow, I had no idea this existed! The blood sweat and tears version has to be one of my favorite songs, but this is amazing too!

[memejawd]

she has an amazing soulful voice that I could listen to for days upon weeks straight

I love her creativity and this outlook on life puts things in sort of a dreamy perspective for me

[morethanpaula]

Thanks Laura for the reminding us that our days on earth are precious few and yet eternal. The song fades out as your life seems to have... so quickly and unexpected. And yet you live on in our hearts and we in yours

.

[minter74]

The covers were fine. But Laura smoked it! Love her for all time!

[scottleeper]

we miss you!!!!

[dkshotwell]

oh my, she was so good

[beerdoctor8]

It should always be rembered that Laura Nyro's recording of her own composition "And When I Die" was made in 1966, a song that it has been said she created when she was 17 years old.

[JohanFromIndonesiaTM]

R.I.P Bruce Lee

[zachmasterzach]

Seriously, I tried listening to some of the covers by the fifth dimension and blood sweat and tears...I couldn't even make it through them. Laura's versions are a billion times better. You could tell that those other artists weren't trying to improve on anything in Laura's songs (not that there's much to improve on), but that they were just re-recording them cause they're good cash crops. Not saying wanting money is so horrible, but it made for poor covers of good songs imho.

[uVueD2b]

@zachmasterzach As for myself,I came across Laura though the 5D's Wedding Bells Blues over a year ago via YouTube...I was so taking back by her I immediately bought some of her recordings and was totally amazed of everthing that she done...My point is after hearing Laura,all others sounds inferior-5D's versions sounds like a Las Vegas revue,BST tricked it up,3DN don't sound right,etc...Laura put all of herself in all her tunes which all makes it a joy to listen and join in her world...

[babykissin]

She's... Fuckin amazing. I met a couple of hippies when I was playing on the streets, and they told me to go home and listen to Laura.. And so I did. God damn. I can't stop!

[Mazzystar1212]

One of three people that I thought actually deserved a Grammy Award. I, also, was converted by Fleetwood Mac with their Rumors album. I had preferred their Kiln House period. Then, the one and only, Michal Jackson's Thriller album.

[sjillieklein]

You're always in my heart Bruce Lee, R.I.P.

[cheapersmokes]

hkilgannon, Very touching tribute to your mother. I am positive you will lead a life to make her very proud! And Laura is a wonderful talent also!

[hkilgannon]

my sweet, beloved mom loved laura nyro, she said she was brilliant. someone mentioned an untouchable, strong persona that nyro had, my mom had the most untouchable persona and wisdom so it's no wonder nyro's music would appeal to her. my mom passed away of lung cancer two weeks ago and listening to this song (among everything else) makes me sob. i'm her only child, the "there'll be one child born and a world to carry on" really tears me up.

[89blueblue]

@hkilgannon I fill your pain my little brother was murdered like my big brother was in march, I swear there an't no heaven and pray there an't no hell

[MishkaMia1]

@hkilgannon My mother passed from lung cancer on Sept. 29th, when I heard that line it also tears me apart, since I am my mothers only child as well. I hope you have found a way to carry on, as I am searching for. All the best, to a similar soul.

[TheWagbert]

I love the Blood, Sweat & Tears version, but it would never have existed if not for the fantastic talent of Laura Nyro.. Three Dog Night and The Fifth Dimension--even Streisand got solid hits from her. It's a shame she died so young. Who knows what other treasures we might have gotten from her?

[gmd1417]

The Blood, Sweat & Tears version of this song is SO much better. They took her song and brought it too life with their brilliant arrangement and performance..

[micvelo]

@gmd1417 I love the BS&T version too but Laura belts it out as only the composer herself could. The girl could sing!! But here's an interesting thought to ponder: Imagine how musical history would have been written about this song had Laura gone on to be the lead singer of BS&T instead of DCT as had almost happened.... Just sayin'... ;=)

[windstorm1000]

Amazing song writer, amazing singer, amazing talent--one with social conscious which he need so very much these days.

[mpx96]

Laura is an unbelievable American talent! She undoubtedly influenced many songwriters. Her work will live for generations.

[JohanFromIndonesiaTM]

3 people are scared to die

[JohanFromIndonesiaTM]

R.I.P Bruce Lee

[happyjacky52]

Thank you Billy (wherever you are) for turning me on to Laura Nyro in 1969. John

[stuck1996]

this played at bruce lee's funeral

[JohanFromIndonesiaTM]

@stuck1996 Yes it was =]

[RamonaFromPomona]

Happy Birthday, Laura.

[pegann100]

Happy Birthday dear Laura. We were both born on Oct. 18th , 1947, in New York City.

You would have been 63 today.

[RamonaFromPomona]

@pegann100 And a very Happy Birthday to you, too!

[talkman288]

Lady Gaga could so totally play her. Gaga's acoustic stuff on youtube inspired me to go back to Laura and remember what a genius she was.

[mjs3888]

@talkman288 Oh dear God no! I'd prefer someone like Regina Spektor.

[talkman288]

@mjs3888 spektor she would be good, but check out gaga's 2005 NYU talent contest vid, eeerry look alike

[mjs3888]

@talkman288 There's a resemblance. But I'm not a Gaga fan, sorry. I agree with Jerry Seinfeld.

[mjs3888]

@talkman288 STEFANI GERMANOTTA could play her. Not Lady Gaga. Not in her current form.

[mjs3888]

@talkman288 I just think that someone like Regina Spektor or even Norah Jones would do a good job mainly due to their musical sensibilites. Listen to Regina's stuff on the "(500) Days of Summer" soundtrack. Gaga hasn't stayed true to that and I am passionate about how she is just pure crap now.

[GinaToySculptor]

Laura was the best - still is, bless her.

[BlushingBull]

she's a 2011 nominee for the rock and roll hall of fame,and listening to this you can clearly see why.

[fairterr]

@BlushingBull Let's hope the people who vote do the right thing and she gets in this time!! Such a beautiful voice and talent

[penny6032]

i love the way she says ''cold''!!!!! :)

[blogegog]

History suggests that there will be TWO children born when she dies. Just sayin'.

[gglodoew]

It's hard to believe she wrote a lot of these song in her teens. Add to that, according to her bio in Wikepedia she had a great home life. I cried when she died. I have loved her music and through that her since I was 16. She was 17. I am almost 60 so I don't think I'll change my mind. When I ponder that I wonder if she was a soul born to this earth before it had time to forget everything from a past life. I'll find out someday or maybe I won"t.

[elizabethfaraone]

@gglodoew Janis Ian also wrote great songs as a teenager. She was threatened with violence when performing "Society's Child" and was quite frightened. Imagine a 16 year old girl fearing for her life as she sang such beautiful words.

[utubehall]

When she died I cried We will carry on

[Thejbirdy]

Someone who looked like her was lady Gaga before she glamorized herself so heavily and whether she could play her in a serious role is another thing however.

[daakour8]

and you know what, this was the best song to bruce lee.

[blockymock]

I'm only 15 and I'm way into hip hip, but i just realized, i love this song.

[StreetSceneLive]

@blockymock

That is so awesome to hear... laura Nyro is truly SPECIAL... Check out more oh her stuff, if you haven't yet... You won't be sorry... Long Live the lovely Laura Nyro.

[wookie72]

I realize this is a crazy idea, but if they ever do a movie based on her life, the only person I could see playing her is Sarah Silverman. Whether she could pull of a serious role is beyond me, but she has the look.

[elizabethfaraone]

@wookie72 Amy Winehouse could play her.

[Thejbirdy]

@elizabethfaraone No way, Amy is a complete lunatic, Laura had a head on her shoulders.

[manthasagittarius]

@elizabethfaraone Ellen Paige. No, think about it. . . 

[elizabethfaraone]

@manthasagittarius Yes, Ellen Paige would make a lovely Laura......Ellen could also play Nara Lofego Leão if a movie was ever made about her.....though there are probably better actresses for the part in Brazil.

[morethanamoonwalker]

Came by here of accident... and what a great find. Fantastic song... :)

[cliftongal51]

I used to listen to her all the time in the 70s but I had gotten out of the habit. Now I find her music posted on You Tube - wow and thanks! Her voice is even more acomplished than I remember.

[lavenderliberal]

She lives in my heart. Always will. Thanks so much for posting this.

[Isoik]

Bruce Lee's favourite song, which was played on his funeral.

[twelvethousandcats]

@Isoik Really? That's amazing, I didn't know.

[windstorm1000]

@Isoik had no idea!!! Boy, he had taste--and it illuminates tender things of that tough action hero that most of us didn't know.

[issurchaim]

put laura in the r & r hof now

[schupy81]

She didn't became famous, but this song did. Blood, Sweat, and Tears sang it. It doesn't matter who becomes "famous" because that does mean you are a better music. Musical talent is not measured in record sales. There is a reason some artists from the 1960s-1970s made a career out of writing songs. They were/are the troubadors, not musical "acts" like some people today who don't write their own songs.

[RamonaFromPomona]

April 18

[mirza007agent]

RIP Bruce Lee, favorite song..

[stevevandien]

@mirza007agent Didn't Bruce ask to have this played at his funeral?

[mirza007agent]

@stevevandien

yes he did, and they did play it on his funeral.

[stevevandien]

@mirza007agent Thanks for the information:) --

[fredespanish]

The song at the END of Final destination but a different version lol... :P....soo its a cover xD good song

[eam623]

How does she do it? <3

[beratio]

i swear their aint no heaven what is she talking about

[walt7500]

@beratio About the truth!

[beratio]

@walt7500 uhhhh there is no heaven ? thats why she never became famous ahaha lol stupid shit the truth hahah u seriously dont know anything or believe anyhting

[walt7500]

@beratio Given the complexity of her music, she was quite famous! I'm from the Netherlands! You want better proof?

[beratio]

@walt7500 let op ze is helemaal niet beroemd en dat weet jij ook

[walt7500]

@beratio Hoe kan iemand die niet beroemd is zoveel lp's gemaakt hebben? Ook haar talenten zijn direct onderkend, want de eerste lp heeft een zeer royale orchestratie! Peperduur! De complexiteit van haar muziek belet een gigantische schare fans, maar ze was in 1969, toen ik Fill Your Head kocht, al fameus! Ik herinner mij dat nog heel goed. Geniet nou maar...

[beratio]

@walt7500 ik geniet erg van dit liedje maar de tekst alleen dat stukje mag ik niet

[walt7500]

@beratio Herman Philipse bewijst in Het Atheïstisch Manifest dat god, zoals door mensen gecontrueerd, niet bestaat. Daarmee wil hij geenszins beweren dat hij daarom ook ALLES weet.

Als mensen een verklaring zoeken voor iets dat de mens niet kan begrijpen, dan is mij dat best, zolang ik er geen last van hem. Het is hiermee net zoals met alles; als er vraag is, naar bv god, dan komt er aanbod!

[beratio]

@walt7500 als jij dood gaat waar ga jij heen ?

[walt7500]

@beratio Bij mijn dood valt de chemische fabriek stil, en is er geen 'heen' meer.

[beratio]

@walt7500 als jij dat niet geloofd leuk voor je maar weet dit je zult ergens heen gaan

[journeythruthepast]

This is such an amazing song, so gospel-like and sweeping and from a teenage songwriting prodigy no less. The only thing not great about the song is the production which buries the rhythm section and overmixes the horns, especially the trombone and tuba. But it was 1966 and her first recordings weren't super budgeted by a big label or anything.

[scxx59]

i <3 <3 this sog because it was playing at my uncle's memorial service and this reminds me of him...he was a great man i will miss himm

[gibwi]

there's something so untouchablely strong about her personae.

[MrJim12341121]

Laura is extremely talented. I just found out who she was today. She wrote And when I die which blood sweat and tears

sang (and sang it well). She wrote wedding bell blues and stone soul picnic which 5ths dimension sang (and sang it well). Laura is totally underated and never got the recognition she deserved. She is also a talented singer. It is sad she died at 49 and never recieved the fame and possible fortune she deserved. a

[misanthrope8]

@MrJim12341121

She "received" a great deal of fame, sir. Check her bio on wikipedia or elsewhere. I owned five or six of her albums in the 1970s and have played/sung her stuff for decades. Barbra Streisand had a hit with Stoney End. I love her ballads...she did die at 49 but that was much better than Eva Cassidy got...

[MrJim12341121]

misanthrope8 I listen to Laura Nyro all the time now. Thanks to the internet I discovered her. She has a quality and tone to her voice which keeps me listening day after day. She puts emotion into her songs and it is more natural and enjoyable for me to listen to her rendtion of wedding bell blues and And when I die then others. I have pandora internet radio with her station and I que 30 songs on lala with just her songs. She is my late in life discovery.

[misanthrope8]

@MrJim12341121

You forgot "Eli's Comin" another Nyro that was a hit for someone else.

[RamonaFromPomona]

If it wasn't for Laura writing this song, B S &T would never have had the glory......

[Vilppum]

I gotta give props to Laura Nyro for the scope and beauty of her work. but I admit that I enjoy listening to the covers of her work -- Blood, Sweat & Tears, Three Dog Night, Fifth Dimension, and the like.

If I hadn't listen to those groups at all, I might never have learned about this amazing lady. And that would have been terrible.

[RamonaFromPomona]

You're entitled...

[lapalissiano]

i'm discovering this talented woman right now.. it's really sad that Laura died more than 10 years ago... I really love her music

[ImTheOneThatIWant123]

It's scary how right she was.

My little brother was born exactly two days before Laura Nyro left this Earth.

[uVueD2b]

"Now troubles are many,

They as deep as a well.

I could swear there aint no Heaven

But I pray there aint no Hell....

But I'll never know by living

But only my dying will tell...."

Simple words put together that forms pure greatness!!!!

Only realized about Laura 3 days ago but I cannot get enough of hearing her works...Even after the 1st few tunes that I heard I immediately ordered one of her albums-I NEVER ordered any music that I didn't already knew previously!! Can't wait for it...

[uVueD2b]

correction..."MY troubles..."

[RosieDay]

I love this song. thanks so much for posting :-)

[gaspo218]

Bood Sweat & Tears took this song all the way to the top.

[dualityofman999]

I never said she was a sellout, only stating the facts. Nonetheless she was an amazing talent.

[dnohseek]

Laura was the real thing!

[bigman9099]

um, she sold HER songs...which is her right...she died young, so the sale of her songs gave her quaility of life while she was here. Its so funny how those who have created nothing, would be critical of an artist that sells thier creation. Wow...

[hondella14]

I never realized all the hits...and to think she really wasn't credited properly. What a talent, and our loss.

[dualityofman999]

Yeah i thought the same thing but i read today that she sold the rights to her early songs for $470,000 in the late sixties. She made her money.

[dianalia100]

That's chicken shit.

[dianalia100]

Let me clarify - it's chicken shit that she cashed in.

[stratdaddy89]

Chicken shit my ass! She knew what her art was worth to her and instead of making her songs a fucking cash cow for herself like most of today's talentless fucks, she made her money and got out before the pigfucker infested media turned her into tabloid fodder. Do us a favor, take your uneducated horse- shit comments and put them where your head usually resides.... up your ass!

[tetsunamixxx]

jaja you have shit in your ears XD and in it head

[elgranpedro]

I am in love with this song...whitout doubt is in my personal Top Ten of bests songs.

[tghetto5]

what is the song titled when she sings "somewhere in the world someone is cold be aware"

[muskratkippy]

To think that she wrote this when she was 16 or 17 is just amazing. What a talent and a real loss to the music world.

[Ognjen91095]

Awesome...

[hbailen]

You know something. She's really still alive. Compare this music, her songs, her talent to almost anything today...Laura is very much with us, still..

[walt7500]

@hbailen It doesn't need much to surpass today's shit, but indeed, superior quality is beyond time. Her music will live on as long there is an ear to hear!

Greetings from the Netherlands.

[stevevandien]

@hbailen You are so right:) --

[Thejbirdy]

@hbailen This song makes me tear up every single time....I don't know why, it's almost like a reflex it's so beautiful.

JBirdy

[Juliaflo]

@hbailen ...When you think of it, Linda Creed is very much with us still, too.

[bartleby2007]

there'll be one child born and a world to carry on....

[LGBJoey]

First time I heard this was on an episode of one of the Lucy Show incarnations in the 60's, performed by Sammy Davis Jr. Never really discovered her till a couple years back via 5th Dimension and an Off Broadway show called "Eli's Comin'" - which I missed, dang it! What a talent, what a soul, she still blesses us today.

[jaynez31]

How Nyro's songs influenced on R & B, Pop, Rock music and musicians. Don't forget the cultural influence like "Stoned Soul Picnic" annually have held in Baltimore and DC for the African American population.

[jaynez31]

Not only her creative melodic music line, I think her lyrics are very keen as Sylvia Plath's.

[girardslim]

Ah, take me back to my lost youth!

In high school in 70-71, she was one of a handfull of great artists like Carole King, James Taylor and Elton John that were great musicians AND great writers with the emphasis on the lyric, thank you Bob Dylan! What a special time that was.

For a New York city girl, she really had a lot of soul and borrowed heavily from gospel and R & B. Where did ALL that talent come from and then go to?

[laurabryannan]

Um, Elton John did not write the lyrics to his songs. Bernie Taupin did. Elton wrote the music only.

[girardslim]

Thanks for the correction.

[Boudica13]

I'm putting this down for when I die. I want it played once I'm gone. For real.

[jaynez31]

I think the management of the record companies knew her brilliant talent, but they tried to take off her reactivities for record sales. So, just what she said "Give me my freedom for as long as I be

All I ask of livin'

is to have no chains on me".

[Boudica13]

Hi Carmen, do you think she had any idea? You know with her mom, from what I heard also had Ovarian Cancer. I miss her more than I can say. I'm older so I had her album, The First

songs back in the '70s, and she still brings the tears out of me today. Screw the Hall of Shame. I know I said it before, but they don't deserve her. Thanx for the response. Boudica13

[Boudica13]

I always thought she was a star. To hell with the record sales and her not given her due. May they all have back luck x's three. Laura Nyro was the best and I miss her. Her voice, her song writing, everything about her. She was perfect in every sense of the word. The Hall of Fame thing is a joke. She deserves better then she got and hopefully one day it will be made up to her, for her talent and the way she carried herself. Miss you much Laura.

[CCarmen]

AMEN! Laura should've enjoyed the same success as her peers and share the fame that Dusty, Carole King and others enjoy. She's just as good - sometimes, even better! And this song is just SO uplifting:)

[walt7500]

@Boudica13 Yes!

[GoldenView88]

this is by far, without shadow of a doubt my most favourite song in the whole world!!

[ericjasonbinns]

love it~

[Garret00074]

Laura taught us we don't have to be famous to have an effect. This woman shunned the spotlight, she perfered to remain true to her muse and just make good music. She could have been a huge rock star...she pulled away from it. She is greatly missed, a great talent and unique songwriter.

[ChristeendahReendah]

I love Laura Nyro!

[shonuffLA]

amazing

[ZooeyGlassDancer]

truly... genius that one encounters "once in a lifetime"

[muskratrowdy]

She went naturally and left one child to carry on. I just wish could have been with us longer. What an incredible talent deep soul she had.

[beratio]

she says i swear there aint no heaven lol there is a heaven and a hell

[waterkeeper511]

Yup. Heaven = listening to Nyro's music, Hell = the state of the world as it is right now.

[bobcarp23]

If it's peace you find in dying, then let the time be near.

[beratio]

lol

[LEWOOF]

so many roads lead back to Laura

miss her deeply

[hellobisbee]

what an amazing writer/and voice...incredible!

[Toyboy789]

I agree with Faiths! Absolutely stunning classic! RIP Laura . . . and sing to the angels!

[FaithsInMyChest]

One of her many classics.