In My Time of Dying

"In My Time of Dying" is a blues song that has been covered by many rock musicians since the early 1960s. The original recording was a traditional gospel song recorded by Blind Willie Johnson, titled "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed"; his sides were recorded over the period 1927-1930.

Bob Dylan version

"In My Time of Dying" gained greater prominence in popular music when Bob Dylan included the song (along with several others dealing with the subject of death) on his 1962 eponymous debut album. The song had a slightly different name on the Dylan album, "In My Time of Dyin'" (as did the later Shocking Blue cover). The influence of the Dylan recording is apparent on all of the later versions of this song, although the original recording by the blues great is also well known; for instance, Led Zeppelin included a photograph of Blind Willie Johnson on the cover of their earlier album, "Led Zeppelin II".

"In My Time of Dying" was later covered by numerous artists including Joshua White, Fear Itself, Shocking Blue, Martin Gore, Pride & Glory, John Sebastian (under the title "Well, Well, Well"), the Japanese 1990s punk rock performer Pinky, The Be Good Tanyas, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and most famously by Led Zeppelin on their 1975 album "Physical Graffiti".

Led Zeppelin version

Song infobox
Name = In My Time of Dying


Artist = Led Zeppelin
Album = Physical Graffiti
Released = February 24, 1975
track_no = 3
Recorded = 1974
Genre = Hard rock, Blues rock
Length = 11:05
Label = Swan Song Records
Writer = Page/Plant/Jones/Bonham
Producer = Jimmy Page
prev = "The Rover"
prev_no = 2
next = "Houses of the Holy"
next_no = 4"In My Time of Dying" is the longest studio track on any of Led Zeppelin's albums and closes Side 1 of the original double-LP edition of "Physical Graffiti", clocking in at 11:05 (11:08 on the LP edition). Surprisingly, there are no long instrumental passages despite the extended song timing.

Jimmy Page's guitar tuning for this song is an open A chord, and was one of the few instances where he played slide guitar. Meanwhile, the distinctive, powerful drumming sounds of John Bonham were recorded in the same way as those on the track "When The Levee Breaks" from Led Zeppelin's fourth album.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.]

Because of its improvisational nature the band never had a rehearsed ending for the song. The studio version ends with: "I'm going to make it my dyin', dyin', dyin'..." After a few seconds of silence we hear a dramatically-feigned coughing fit (more than likely eminating from John Bonham). Playing along, Plant quips "cough" as an apt final word for the song. Bonham can then be heard exclaiming, "That's gonna be the one, isn't it?!", referring to that particular take. Next we hear what is likely the voice of recording engineer Andy Johns saying through the talk-back microphone "Come have a listen, then." Bonham then releases the clutch of his hi-hat and says (rather sheepishly) "Oh, yes. Thank you."

In the May 2008 issue of "Uncut Magazine", Page elaborated on the humourous reaction in the studio which can be heard at the end of the song:

"In My Time of Dying" was played during Led Zeppelin's 1975 and some of their 1977 concert tours, where Robert Plant dedicated the song to the British Labour Party's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Denis Healey. When played live, the band tuned the song down one step. Although performed in 1977, Plant initially was not keen on singing the song after suffering a near-fatal car crash in 1975, due to its fatalistic lyrical theme.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.] This was one of the few live songs where Page switched to his black and white Danelectro guitar, which he also used for "White Summer" and "Kashmir". One live version of "In My Time of Dying", from Led Zeppelin's performance at Earls Court on May 24 1975, is featured on disc 2 of the "Led Zeppelin DVD".

Page performed this song on his tour with The Black Crowes in 1999. A version of "In My Time of Dying" performed by Page and The Black Crowes can be found on the album "Live at the Greek". Page also included the song as part of his solo "Outrider" tour.

"In My Time of Dying" was performed at Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on December 10, 2007.

Facts

*The Season 2 opener for the CW's tc show Supernatural, was titled "In My Time of Dying" as classic rock is the only music featured on the show.

References