October 12, 2012

McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead and Gone (1970)

Tom McGuinness, born in London in 1941, teamed up with Hughie Flint, born in Manchester the same year, came together in 1970 to form this band. McGuinness had previously played as the bassist and guitarist of Manfred Mann, formerly of group of the same name, whereas Flint had been the drummer for John Mayall, formerly of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Despite having an alternating line-up with numerous talented members, the group never really caught on in the United States and found the majority of their stardom in Britain. After a couple singles in the Top 5 and some albums that were difficult to reproduce live on stage, the band called it quits in 1975.

This song, written by Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle, was the band’s first released single. It was loosely based on the life of Robert Johnson, an iconic blues singer whose contributions to the guitar in the 1930s would inspire many great guitarists, such as Eric Clapton. The song reached number two in the United Kingdom and number forty-seven in the United States.

album art

McGuinness Flint - When I'm Dead and Gone (1970)

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Lyrics:

Oh, I love you baby
I love you night and day
When I leave ya baby
Don't cry the night away
When I die, don't you write no words upon my tomb
I don't believe I want to leave no epitaph for two

Oh, oh, oh
When I'm dead and gone
I wanna leave some happy woman livin’ on
Oh, oh, oh
When I'm dead and gone
Don't want nobody to morn beside my grave

Oh, Mama Linda, she's out to get my hide
She's got a shotgun and a daughter by her side
Hey there, ladies, Johnson´s free
Who's got the love?
Who's got a love to keep a man like me?

Oh, oh, oh
When I'm dead and gone
I wanna leave some happy woman livin’ on
Oh, oh, oh
When I'm dead and gone
Don't want nobody to morn beside my grave

Oh, oh, oh
When I'm dead and gone
Don't want nobody to mourn beside my grave
Oh, oh, oh
When I'm dead (and gone)
When I’m dead and gone
(Don't want nobody to morn beside my grave)
No, no, no, no, no
Posted by Zolland at 12:00 PM
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2 comments:

  1. BeebopalulaOctober 17, 2012 at 3:54 AM

    Loved this song. Tom McGuinness still tours with The Manfreds* and this song is included in their wide repertoire, along with some Paul Jones solo hits (I've Been A Bad Bad Boy from the film Priviledge and Mike d'Abo penned hits (Handbags & Gladrags).

    Tom originally played bass but now plays guitar - and ukelele for this song - on the tours which also include Mike Hugg from the original line-up on 'The One in the Middle' track but not Tom Vickers or Manfred Mann.

    *The Manfreds 50th Anniversary Tour is currently in the UK, Oct-Dec 2012.

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    Replies
    1. ZollandOctober 17, 2012 at 8:01 AM

      Excellent information! And the link in your name was very interesting as well. I have to admit I didn't know much about McGuinness Flint. I think they're one of those acts that weren't as big in the US as the UK, Aus, etc. It's a shame they aren't touring the US - I'd have to liked to see them.

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