The “simple” rock song John Lennon loved most
John Lennon held a reputation for being rather critical in his musical assessments. Unhesitant to voice his disapproval of peers and fellow musicians, the late Beatle’s strong opinions were dismissed and admired in equal measure. Yet, his outspoken criticisms only served to heighten the significance of the works that he did appreciate, highlighting some of the greatest hits in rock history.
When Norman Greenbaum set out to write ‘Spirit in the Sky’, he initially set out to write a religious rock song. He is Jewish, but rather than incorporating a Jewish term for God, he opted for “Jesus” as he believed it would have broader appeal in the market. Crafting the music consumed months of Greenbaum’s time, but the lyrics flowed quickly.
Initially, the spark for this song stemmed from a preacher-themed track by country artist Porter Wagoner. Greenbaum also drew inspiration from the folk revival movement and the rich traditions of southern blues. The song is “timeless”, as Greenbaum explained to Mojo in 2011. “Most everyone else sees it that way,” he added. “It appeals to one’s inner self and the need for redemption, plus, heck, who wants to go to hell?”
During an interview with Rolling Stone, Jann S. Wenner once highlighted the minimalistic nature of the music in the Plastic Ono Band’s album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. Lennon responded: “Well, I’ve always liked simple rock. There’s a great one in England now, ‘I Hear You Knocking’. I liked the ‘Spirit in the Sky’ a few months back. I always liked simple rock and nothing else.”
Greenbaum’s inspiration for the track, Wagoner, is most notably remembered for his collaborations with Dolly Parton. He said: “One particular day, [Wagoner] did a song about a miner that was up in the hills, digging for gold. He hadn’t been to church [or] prayed for, like, years and years. And for some reason, he decided it was time to go back. So he took his viola, came all the way back into town, and when he got to the church, there was a note on the door that said, ‘The pastor’s on vacation’.”
While the song garnered notable popularity in the 1970s following its initial release, it has since accrued renewed popularity after its appearance in the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack. Director James Gunn personally handpicked the song for the film, opting also to maximise its impact within the theatrical trailer. Gunn, an enthusiast of power pop, believed that ‘Spirit in the Sky’, along with the other soundtrack songs, formed the movie’s emotional nucleus.
There’s much to say about this song also being one of Lennon’s favourites — alongside its simplicity; it also panders to his general ethos that life expands beyond just what’s in front of us. ‘Spirit in the Sky’ exudes that typical visceral charm that Lennon appreciated, particularly when it came to putting faith in external powers or a higher being.
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