Turn Me On, Dead Man

"In My Time of Dying" is a song that already had a long history by the time Led Zeppelin recorded their version, which was included on their 1975 double-LP Physical Graffiti. With its roots in spirituals dating before the twentieth century, this song has been recorded under a number of titles. The earliest recorded version was by country blues and gospel singer Blind Willie Johnson, who recorded it under the title "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed" in 1927. Three of the compilations (Led Astray, The Roots of Led Zeppelin and Zeppelin Classics) include this recording, but while Blind Willie Johnson exerted a strong influence on Led Zeppelin, it was Josh White's version recorded a few years later that Jimmy Page cited as the inspiration for Led Zeppelin's version, as the liner notes for Led Astray point out. Particularly noticeable in this regard is the line "Well, well, well/So I can die easy", present in Josh White's version but not Blind Willie Johnson's. I would also point to a couple of other recordings of this song that probably influenced Led Zeppelin's interpretation of "In My Time of Dying," particularly Bob Dylan's "In My Time of Dyin'" from his 1962 self-titled debut album and the extended jam version of "In My Time of Dying" by the psychedelic blues rock band Fear Itself. The lyrics of Led Zeppelin's version follow Josh White's version, as does Bob Dylan's. Even noting that influence, Led Zeppelin's musical interpretation of the song was significantly different from the gospel, blues, and folk artists who had recorded the song before them. Led Zeppelin took a country blues/gospel traditional and turned into into a sprawling hard rock blow-out. So sustained is the intensity of Led Zeppelin's recording that at the conclusion of the track, John Bonham can be heard saying "That's gotta be the one, hasn't it?" An extended version of the song was not unprecendented, though. In 1969, the band Fear Itself had taken a similar approach to the song, recording a blues rock jam that clocks in at 8:45. Not to be outdone, however, Led Zeppelin's version is over 11 minutes long. Led Zeppelin's recording of "In My Time of Dying" bears all of the hallmarks of the band's best work, and it stands out as one of their greatest moments. The problem here is that the songwriting credits on this track are listed as "John Bonham/John Paul Jones/Jimmy Page/Robert Plant". It may be a great arrangement, but it is not an original song.

Below is a list of some of the various versions of "In My Time of Dying" that have been recorded over the years. As you can see, Led Zeppelin's is hardly the first, though its influence can be heard in almost all subsequent versions of the song. In their introduction to their live performance of "In My Time of Dying," folk/bluegrass band Still on the Hill joke that the reason they're performing this song is because they were asked if they know any Led Zeppelin songs, and Pride and Glory's version deviates little from Led Zeppelin's interpretation of the song. Thanks to The Rosinators, who released their own version of "In My Time of Dying" in 2003, for providing much of the information in this table.

		Blind Willie Johnson - The Complete Blind Willie Johnson
		Josh White - Josh at Midnight
		Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan
		Fear Itself - Fear Itself

"Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed" by Josh White is included on Early Blues Roots of Led Zeppelin and "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed" by Blind Willie Johnson is included on Led Astray, The Roots of Led Zeppelin and Zeppelin Classics.