When I'm Dead and Gone

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"When I'm Dead and Gone" is a song written by Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle. It was recorded and released in November 1970 as the debut single by McGuinness Flint, peaked at No. 2 in the UK charts the following month, and reached No. 47 in the US charts a few weeks later. It was one of the first hit singles to feature prominent use of mandolin, played by Gallagher.

The song was loosely inspired by and based on the life of blues musician Robert Johnson, hence the line in the second verse, "Hey there, mister, Johnson's free."

After Gallagher and Lyle left the group and enjoyed a successful career as a duo, they featured the song regularly on stage, not surprisingly, as in terms of sales and chart performance it was their biggest composition ever. Cover versions have been recorded on album by Phil Everly, Adam Faith, Status Quo, Def Leppard and Fury in the Slaughterhouse.