10 Incredible Songs That Took NO Time To Write
8. Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky
Spirit in the Sky, originally written and released by Norman Greenbaum way back in 1969, is one of those rare songs that has become deeply rooted into the collective psyche of music fans everywhere without anyone really knowing how or when it happened.
It’s kind of like a rock ’n’ roll Happy Birthday, and I defy you to find a cooler intro to a tune than that rasping, skulking swagger of a riff.
But whereas the legacy of Greenbaum’s song might have lasted an eternity, it took him just a quarter of an hour to pen the lyrics. The story goes that the singer came across a greetings card that bore the words ‘Spirit in the Sky’, along with a picture of some Native Americans sitting in front of a tipi.
That got Norm’s creative juices flowing, and then a little while later he happened to be watching a TV special featuring legendary country singer Porter Wagoner. The Missouri crooner did a segment in which he sang a religious ballad.
Inspired, Greenbaum remembered his greetings card, put two and two together, and in 15 minutes had written a groovy number about being besties with the big man (or woman) upstairs. Amen to that.