“Spirit in the Sky” by Gareth Gates
A lot of us are uncomfortable talking about death. In fact, many wish that they never have to experience it or never find the need to talk about it. After all, we do want our loved ones to never leave us. As for us, death is the last thing on our minds especially when we are too busy trying to continuously achieve our goals and make our dreams come true. However, it will happen someday.
When the time comes that we pass on from this world, we all wish that it would be somewhere peaceful, free and filled with happiness. Whether we are religious or not, at one point, we will hope that we will be greeted by a higher being who will welcome us with open arms.
There are plenty of songs that speak about the afterlife. One of the most popular is “Spirit in the Sky” by Gareth Gates. First recorded by Norman Greenbaum, the psychedelic rock and gospel song about death has been widely played and covered. However, one of the most famous renditions is that of Gareth Gates.
The song has been used in many TV shows and movies including Shameless and Guardians of the Galaxy. It is also a chart-topper and was even hailed by John Lennon as one of his favorite songs.
Perhaps one of the reasons why this song has become a timeless classic is how it relates to all of us.
Below are its lyrics as well as our very own interpretation of it.
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
Like we said previously, dying isn’t exactly something we enjoy talking about. However when it happens, we are all wishing that our final resting be filled with nothing but pure joy and peace.
Each time we think about death, we can relate to the above verses about our desire to go to Heaven and meeting our Maker. We want to end up somewhere beautiful, just the way countless literature has depicted Heaven to be.
Goin’ up to the spirit in the sky
That’s where I’m gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that’s the best
There is no other better place than Heaven. Whether or not we profess it out loud, we believe that the best place to end up when we leave this life is where God would be. Here, we no longer have worries, troubles and burdens. In Heaven, all we are is free, loved and peaceful.
Prepare yourself you know it’s a must
Got to have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He’s gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
People in Faith believe that we must prepare for the afterlife one way or another. Should we wish to end up in Heaven, we are taught to be good and do good. We are taught to love our neighbors and respect the Lord. We are also taught to profess put our trust and faith in Him.
Jesus Christ is believed to be God’s intercessor, the vessel as to which we can be with Him for all eternity and in the afterlife. When we are good and doing good, we are bound to be rewarded with a beautiful afterlife, together with God and the angels. When we are good, Jesus recognizes it and thereby allows you to sit at the table.
Goin’ up to the spirit in the sky
That’s where I’m gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
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
We are all sinners. The first two lines of the stanza are merely a hyperbole, an exaggeration that we have nothing but good. We are humans who make mistakes but the most important thing is we repent from our sins and recognize that God is with us and will be with us when we pass on.
The song is much like a prayer of trust and faith on the Lord. It tells us that for as long as we are good, we are going to be rewarded in the afterlife with an experience far from the maddening world we currently live in.
When we die, we are going to the best place known to man.
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
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
Goin’ on up to the spirit in the sky
That’s where I’m gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that’s the best
Go to the place that’s the best
Go to the place that’s the best
Go to the place that’s the best
