Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "And When I Die" (Blood, Sweat, & Tears)

It's Tuesday and it's time for The Notes!

What is your legacy?  No, really, for what will you be known when you pass from this existence?  Do you have kids or grandkids to which you have passed sage wisdom?  Or perhaps, you have amassed a nest egg as an inheritance for them to have a better life than you have experienced?  Maybe, your legacy is a nice combination of both of these things. 

Throughout history, this question has been levied on folks as they have lived their lives.  What or how you invest in your legacy does not, however, guarantee a good reputation or fond memories from friends and family.  As I get older, what my kids and grandkids (and even friends and acquaintances) remember about me becomes more and more important.  Was I a good dad, was I a great friend, was I a good boss when given those responsibilities?  Did I love well?  Don't get me wrong, I don't lie awake at night and ponder these things, nor am I plagued by any of the potential answers to those questions.  But every once in a while I do give a brief moment of service to the statement..."And when I die, and when I'm gone..."


Written by Singer/Songwriter Laura Nyro, "And When I Die" was first recorded by the folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary in 1966. (Peter, Paul and Mary Sydney Opera House - 'And When I Die') Laura Nyro followed it up with her recording in 1967. (Laura Nyro - "And When I Die"). But in 1968 the world was further introduced to the jazz-rock fusion band Blood, Sweat, & Tears with their take on the song.  Their version soared up the charts peaking at #2.  Blood, Sweat, & Tears, like so many bands of the time, missed going to #1 because the Beatles were topping the charts during the same chart season.  In this instance, The Beatles had the #1 single, "Come Together/Something". 

"And When I Die" is the third single from the eponymous Blood, Sweat, & Tears, the second album from the band. ("You've Made Me So Very Happy" and Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Spinning Wheel" (Blood, Sweat, and Tears) were the other 2 chart-topping singles from the album. Both of which also stalled at #2.)  The album was produced by James William Guercio who was working with another little horn band at the time.  You might have heard of them...Chicago. Tuesday's Musical Notes archive search: Chicago 

When Blood, Sweat, and Tears recorded the Nyro song, they made some subtle adjustments as you can tell from the recordings linked above.  The single version was edited from the album, as most singles were at the time. This was done to make the single more favorable for the "3-minute window" radio favorability playing time.  The album version featured the instrumentalists in one additional bridge, as well as having, some of the "pauses" in between verses be a bit longer.  

The most recent cover of the song was from the Billy Childs', Laura Nyro tribute album: Map To The Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro. This cover featured keyboardist Childs with Americana vocalist Alison Kraus.  (https://tuesdaysmusicalnotes.blogspot.com/2018/06/tuesdays-musical-notes-missing-yoTuesday's Musical Notes - "Missing You" (John Waite/Alison Krauss)u.html)  Their combined efforts with the classic song garnered them a Grammy Award For Best American Roots Performance in 2014.  

Despite its title, "And When I Die" lyrically portends hope for the future as the next generation comes along to promote peace and take our place when we are gone.  Overall, I like the song, but there is one passage that I find somewhat troubling.  "...I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell... Why?  Well, I'm glad you asked!


When last we visited, yes, I know it was 2 weeks ago...this retirement life...thankfully I start back to work this week and will have more consistency with The Notes.  But I digress...When last we visited, the Apostle Paul was in prison writing to believers all over the regions he had traveled in his missionary journeys.  (See The Notes beginning in June 2023 referencing chapters 9-28 of Acts of the Apostles as recorded by Dr. Luke.)  

In these letters, Paul addresses situations that he has heard were causing difficulties in the church.  He also writes great words of encouragement to those churches that are facing these challenges as well as to those bodies of believers who are working hard to get the Gospel of Jesus presented to their communities. 

Today we find Paul writing the church in Phillipi. He had spent about 3 months there establishing the Jesus community and encouraging their boldness. Acts of the Apostles as recorded by Dr. Luke, Chapter 16, verses 11-40 NASB/AMP/ESV/KJV  Historians tell us that the church at Phillipi was the first Christian community of believers in Europe.  By the way, Philippians is my favorite New Testament book for reasons that I hope become evident over the next few weeks.  

Apparently, the Phillipian church was doing well.  So why would Paul need to write to them?  Let's dive in with Chapter 1.  

Customary greetings open this letter as Paul describes the emotion he feels for the church.  He assures them that he has been praying for them and their leaders as they have participated in the Gospel since it was mentioned to them.  Phillippians is a book of the Bible that is oftentimes quoted and we see one of those quotables in verse 6 where Paul tells them; "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus."  I don't know about you but I would love for just about anyone to say this to me, much less someone of the spiritual stature of the Apostle Paul.  Understand also, that the "completed" work is something that is a partnership.  Even though Jesus begins the good work and will complete it in His time, we must do our part in continuing the work that was started UNTIL it is completed in Jesus.  I recently saw a meme that stated, "If it's not good, God's not done,"  The good work that God is doing in us through the Holy Spirit will not be complete until we are gone.

As the letter continues, Paul expresses his love for the church and its members in his encouragement through these verses.  He speaks of "overflowing love" that is based on "real knowledge" and "discernment".  He also states why he desires for their overflowing love to abound because it enables them to discover excellent things and causes them to seek after those things that will reduce their temptations.  In these passages, Paul is careful to give credit where it is due in praising Jesus because of the Phillippians "having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ."

Paul then launches into a portion of the letter where he tells of the consequences of his imprisonment.  Surprisingly, he alludes to the fact that his being in jail has had the positive circumstance of the Gospel being preached more readily.  Grant it, some of the folks are telling the Gospel out of "envy and strife" and others are feeling emboldened because of the positive attitude of Paul's immediate captors towards the Apostle.  Regardless of the reason, Paul celebrates that the Gospel is being preached.  

Paul segues into a discourse about what might happen next.  "And when I die, and when I'm gone..."  In some of the most well-known passages of Scripture in the Bible, Paul begins speaking of the separation of the physical body and the heavenly body.  He makes the bold proclamation in verse 21, "For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."  

"I'm not scared of dying
And I don't really care
If it's peace you find in dying
Well, then let the time be near..."

Wow.  This is difficult for any generation to understand much less those who were Paul's main audience.  He unpacks this statement in the remainder of the chapter.  What Paul is saying is that part of him, his spirit in a different body will keep going on even after the body we understand in this world is done.  His spirit which is now aligned with Jesus will be in the presence of Jesus at the time of Paul's final breath.  So for him, if he lives, he gets to keep preaching the Gospel and writing encouraging/accountable letters and if his physical body ceases, he gets to be with Jesus.  Paul is conflicted by this dichotomy.  But even in the conflict, he is content that either outcome is a wonderfully acceptable occurrence as he strives to be more like Jesus.  

There is much debate about this passage of Scripture.  I certainly have my own ideas based on what I have read in the Bible, yet I would encourage you to do your own research.  What does it mean to be absent from the body and present with the Lord?  Ask Holy Spirit to guide you as you attempt to understand what Paul is saying here.  Open your heart and mind to the possibilities of an Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God.

Paul aids the Phillippians in trying to understand this mindset by encouraging them further. Verses 27-28 say,  "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;  and in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and this too, from God."  

Paul is saying, "Act like Jesus" regardless of your circumstances.  Paul further suggests that their faith is an encouragement to him as he faces his prison sentence.  He adds one final bit of motivation to the believers in their battle against those who would oppose them.  He says that their very opposition is a "sign of destruction for them".  But for those who are faithful and firm in one spirit, it is salvation.  I don't know about you but I could use that kind of encouragement daily.  Yet that goes with a bit of a warning in the last 2 verses that for those who believe in Jesus and are bold about their belief, suffering will be the result.  

In all of his letters, Paul considers the folks of the churches that he helped to establish as his children.  In this sense, maybe Laura Nyro also drew some inspiration from Paul's letter to the Phillipian believers as he questions what the remainder of his life might be, "...there'll be one child born in this world to carry on, to carry on..."

Loving Him by Loving You,
randy 
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