Spirit In The Sky Guide

: The theme of being "buried with your shoes on"—a common trope in Westerns—found its way into his thoughts during the writing process. The Writing & Recording

The helpful "story" behind Norman Greenbaum's 1969 hit is a classic tale of unexpected inspiration. Despite its heavy Christian themes, the song was written by a Jewish artist who simply thought he could write a better gospel song than the ones he saw on TV. The Inspiration Spirit In The Sky

Greenbaum, raised in a nearly Orthodox Jewish family, was watching a television show featuring country singer . During the show, Wagoner performed a religious song about a miner who found his way back to God. Greenbaum, who had no background in gospel music, felt he could create something similar and decided to write his own "religious" song. Other eclectic influences included: : The theme of being "buried with your

: The song is famous for its fuzzy, growling guitar riff. Greenbaum used a Fender Telecaster with a custom "fuzz box" built directly into the guitar body to achieve the unique tone. The Inspiration Greenbaum, raised in a nearly Orthodox