When I'm Dead and Gone
Encyclopedia
"When I'm Dead and Gone" is a song written by Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle. It was recorded and released in November 1970 as the debut single by McGuinness Flint
, peaked at No. 2 in the UK charts the following month, and reached No. 47 in the US charts a few weeks later. It was one of the first hit singles to feature prominent use of mandolin
, played by Gallagher.
The song was loosely inspired by and based on the life of blues musician Robert Johnson, hence the line in the second verse, "Hey there, mister, Johnson's free."
After Gallagher and Lyle left the group and enjoyed a successful career as a duo, they featured the song regularly on stage, not surprisingly, as in terms of sales and chart performance it was their biggest composition ever. Cover versions have been recorded on album by Phil Everly, Adam Faith
, Status Quo, Def Leppard
and Fury in the Slaughterhouse
.
McGuinness Flint
McGuinness Flint was a rock band formed in 1970 by Tom McGuinness, former bassist and guitarist with Manfred Mann, and Hughie Flint, former drummer with John Mayall; plus vocalist and keyboard player Dennis Coulson, and multi-instrumentalists and songwriters Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle...
, peaked at No. 2 in the UK charts the following month, and reached No. 47 in the US charts a few weeks later. It was one of the first hit singles to feature prominent use of mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, played by Gallagher.
The song was loosely inspired by and based on the life of blues musician Robert Johnson, hence the line in the second verse, "Hey there, mister, Johnson's free."
After Gallagher and Lyle left the group and enjoyed a successful career as a duo, they featured the song regularly on stage, not surprisingly, as in terms of sales and chart performance it was their biggest composition ever. Cover versions have been recorded on album by Phil Everly, Adam Faith
Adam Faith
Terence "Terry" Nelhams-Wright, known as Adam Faith was a Teen idol English singer, actor and later financial journalist. He was one of the most charted acts of the 1960s. He became the first UK artist to lodge his initial seven hits in the Top 5...
, Status Quo, Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
and Fury in the Slaughterhouse
Fury in the Slaughterhouse
Fury in the Slaughterhouse was a German rock band founded in 1987 and broke up in 2008. Their hits include: "Time To Wonder", "Every Generation Got Its Own Disease", "Won't Forget These Days", "Radio Orchid", "Dancing in the Sunshine of the Dark", "Milk & Honey", and "Trapped Today, Trapped...
.