Top 20 Songs By Musicians Who KNEW They Were Dying

#20: “When I Get to Heaven” (2018)

John Prine

It's only fitting that one of the most significant lyricists of his time would process his own fate through song. John Prine’s health had been devastated by recurring fights with cancer when he wrote “When I Get to Heaven” as a unique approach to death. He lays out his plans for the afterlife, from visiting his deceased relatives to forgiving those who’ve wronged him— even his critics. He even envisions indulging in vices he could no longer enjoy, like his signature cocktail. The witty, heartfelt lyrics and cheery acoustic instrumental make the morbid reality feel more like going home. Though it wasn’t the last piece Prine recorded before his passing from coronavirus in 2020, it’s the first to acknowledge and accept the inevitable.

#19: “Ain’t It Fun” (1975)

Rocket from the Tombs

One of punk rock’s earliest songsmiths was also one of its first victims. Rocket from the Tombs frontman Peter Laughner co-wrote “Ain't It Fun” just before the band’s split in 1975. The lyrics expressed disillusionment with the toxic rocker lifestyle that Laughner publicly admitted ensnared him. One crucial line is, [“Ain't it fun when you know that you're gonna die young?”]. Two years later, Laughner succumbed to acute pancreatitis at age 24, despite warnings about his excessive drinking and substance use. Rocket from the Tombs wouldn’t record “Ain't It Fun” in the studio until their 2003 reunion. After co-writer Gene O’Connor debuted the song with Dead Boys in ‘78, many bands covered it in tribute to an artist who understood the stranglehold of drug culture.

#18: “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive” (1952)

Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys

His fame couldn’t help him escape reality. Country music star Hank Williams struggled with spina bifida occulta, a back condition. He developed a dependency on substances to self-medicate his immense pain, ostensibly contributing to his heart failure in 1953. This recontextualizes his final single, “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive,” which appears to be about a person experiencing a streak of horrible luck. Following Williams’s death, it can be interpreted as a man coping with his chronic illness and substance use disorder through cynical humor. It’s hard to say if Williams knew he’d die following its release, but considering the downtrodden message and the physically draining recording experience, it's easy to assume that the thought was on his mind.

#17: “My Only True Friend” (2017)

Gregg Allman

It’s easy to assume that this heartfelt track is merely the singer’s way of reflecting on his life. Given that Gregg Allman passed away from cancer less than a year after recording “My Only True Friend,” that meaning does serve as one interpretation. The repeated pleas for his music to be remembered and the acknowledgment of his slowly approaching end only contribute to it. However, there’s more than meets the eye. The song’s made even more poignant by it having been covertly written from the perspective of his deceased brother and longtime musical partner, Duane. This takes the song’s emotion to an even higher level, transforming it from a plea for legacy to a final message between siblings before reuniting.

#16: “You Never Knew My Mind” (2018)

Chris Cornell

Considering Johnny Cash’s haunting cover of Nine Inch Nails before his own passing, it’s fitting that his work would be used similarly. Chris Cornell adapted two of Cash’s unreleased poems, “You Never Knew My Mind” and “I Never Knew Your Mind,” into one song for a tribute album. The lyrics are about a crumbling relationship. But after Cornell took his own life before the single’s release, it took on a much darker connotation. When he sings about fleeting good times, signs not being recognized, or how his feelings were never truly known, it's as though he’s addressing the listener. It takes an already bittersweet piece and makes it more heartbreaking– and the fact that it was one of his final recordings makes it doubly so.

#15: “Riders on the Storm” (1971)

The Doors

Though the rest of the band would sporadically create and release music afterwards, this signalled the end of their time with frontman Jim Morrison. “Riders on the Storm” was the last track The Doors created before he made his final trip to Paris and died of an apparent overdose. The song is already melancholy, with soft vocals and a moody, introspective instrumental. The news of his demise painted it in a new light, displaying the final message of a tortured soul. The third verse in particular is haunting, as Morrison pleads with his partner to stay by his side and love him. Coincidentally, his last words, to his lover Pamela Courson, would be, “Pam, are you still there?”.

#14: “You Know You’re Right” (2002)

Nirvana

Unlike some of the other songs on this list, the context behind this one is immediately noticeable. Released eight years after Kurt Cobain tragically took his own life, “You Know You’re Right” offers a blunt look into his dwindling mental health. It’s clear that he knew the way he would pass, from the cathartically wailed chorus lamenting his own pain, to feelings of his own perceived failure. The promises to disappear for good and that he knew things would end like this comes across as desperate cries for help. Cobain died just a few months after recording the song, and it was shelved for years afterwards. It wasn’t until 2002 that his fans could hear just how much he’d been struggling.

#13: “Gone with the Wind” (2016)

Architects

Context can be a powerful tool when perceiving art. When the Architects first released “Gone with The Wind” in April of 2016, it seemed like a standard, well-written sad song. The pieces started to come together when the band’s guitarist, Tom Searle, succumbed to cancer just four months later. Suddenly, the lyrics referencing an incurable sickness, attempting to embrace the reality of death, and realizing it may have been all for nothing felt more personal. Searle’s diagnosis hadn’t been made known during its initial release, causing the track’s true meaning to fly under the radar. Now, it’s impossible to listen to without hearing his struggles to accept his impending demise.

#12: "Requiem" (1791)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Though not intended to be about his own demise, Mozart’s final masterpiece is now permanently associated with it. He was tasked with writing a dirge to honor a client’s deceased spouse. He’d struggled with his health throughout his life, which worsened while working on “Requiem.” He was only able to complete the first movement, “Introitus,” before passing. He drafted the lyrics, including pleas for himself and other lost souls, and musings over how he’d be judged in the afterlife. Though they make sense considering the commission, it’s easy to imagine them becoming more personal. Other composers have completed the symphony; and while it’s still beautiful, there’s no telling how haunting it could’ve been had Mozart seen his vision through to the end.

#11: “Memory Lane” (1979)

Minnie Riperton

It’s tragic when a star is cut down in their prime. A year after her initial peak in 1975, Minnie Riperton was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, and given months to live. She got into the studio and recorded her final album, with the standout being “Memory Lane.” It starts with her reflecting on her life, then devolves into her insisting that she isn’t ready to go, and pleading to be saved from her health and anxieties. Unlike other swan songs that accept the inevitable, this one acknowledges the fear that comes with knowing your fate is just around the corner. Ripperton passed away shortly thereafter, leaving behind a raw dirge that’s sure to impact listeners for generations to come.

#10: “Last Donut of the Night” (2006)

J Dilla

While most would choose to say goodbye with lyrics, renowned producer J Dilla did so through production alone. After experiencing difficulties with lupus and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, he was eventually hospitalized. Knowing the end was near, he worked on his last album from his medical ward. “Last Donut of the Night” is the penultimate track, serving as the emotional climax. While there are no words, he conveyed his thoughts on mortality through complex beats and melodies. It sparked discussion within his fandom, with some even finding symbolism pertaining to death in the official fanmade video. It was a fitting conclusion to his respected career, one that’s ensured he won’t be forgotten any time soon.

#9: “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” (2014)

Glen Campbell

You may think that most songs about one’s end would be bleak and gloomy, but some have a wildly different tone. Glen Campbell was a beloved figure, and his final contribution cemented his legacy. After learning he had Alzheimer’s disease, he knew that the clock was ticking. This led to him recording one more tune,“I’m Not Gonna Miss You.” The message is irreverent and blunt, referencing his illness and the memories it took from him. His outlook was realistic, even stating that while people would be sad, he wouldn’t be able to care due to his disorder. The dark humor was the perfect way of approaching the unfortunate situation, closing out his life and vocation with acclaim.

#8: “Don’t Worry About Me” (2002)

Joey Ramone

Even if a piece isn’t necessarily about the creator’s impending fate, some can be recontextualized to have that meaning post-death. Joey Ramone, the lead singer of the band The Ramones, had only just started his solo venture when complications with lymphoma began to arise. He kept the diagnosis secret until just before he died, shocking people across the nation. This led them to look at his posthumous debut in a new light, particularly the titular track, “Don’t Worry About Me.” While it could’ve been interpreted to be about a failing relationship, some read between the lines and saw it as his farewell to his supporters. The result was haunting, making listeners wonder what could’ve been had he had more time.

#7: “When the Sky Comes Looking For You” (2015)

Motörhead

Sometimes, the inclusion of despondent themes can seem purely coincidental but end up carrying new weight after a tragedy. Motörhead, and more specifically its frontman Lemmy, were widely beloved in the rock scene. Their last project was created and published just before Lemmy died in 2015, with none of the members even being aware that their time with their bandmate was coming to a close. His passing gave new meaning to “When the Sky Comes Looking For You.” The deceptively upbeat number wasn’t about Lemmy in particular, but the lines questioning what one would do when faced with their own undoing were suddenly much more pertinent than they originally had been. The newly derived meaning helped provide some closure for his grieving fans.

#6: “Keep Me In Your Heart” (2003)

Warren Zevon

For some musicians, an unwelcome medical discovery is all the motivation they need to get their parting words out. Warren Zevon was an accomplished singer, who recorded his endmost work after learning he had an inoperable form of mesothelioma. The saxophone-backed “Please Stay” was his plea for his family to support him as he fearfully faced oblivion. Things became even clearer once “Keep Me In Your Heart” began. It’s even more somber, this time asking people to think of him as they continued living, even during simpler moments. It celebrated the little things that made living great, while acknowledging he wouldn't be able to enjoy them much longer. It was the last thing he ever created, bidding adieu to those who loved him.

#5: "Stuck Inside a Cloud” (2001)

George Harrison

Whether with the Beatles or on his own, his dedication to his art was unparalleled. In the early aughts, it was revealed that George Harrison’s cancer had returned. This caused him to dedicate his remaining energy to “Brainwashed,” his first full-length solo output since 1987. His escalating sickness led to him teaming up with his son to finally finish it. While “Stuck Inside a Cloud” doesn’t mention his ailment, it does allude to his own contemplations about his existence. Some lyrics even point to him potentially losing sleep and not eating due to his thoughts, which could be construed to be about his prognosis. Although the meaning isn’t certain, it ended up being a touching way to end his career.

#4: “You Want It Darker” (2016)

Leonard Cohen

He’s one of the posterchildren of melancholic music, making it no surprise when his conclusive composition referenced his own demise. It was released just before he fell and passed away in his home, after several months of physical deterioration. His declining health encouraged him to finish his final record. Some tunes, like “Leaving the Table,” acknowledged his condition and the feelings that came with accepting death. The true pièce de résistance was the opener, “You Want It Darker,” where he references his religious roots by questioning God. It’s practically accusatory, with Cohen interrogating the deity while admitting he was ready to join it. It closed out his body of work perfectly, committing to the gloomy lyricism that defined him.

#3: “Mother Love” (1995)

Queen

Freddie Mercury defined the word “icon.” Known for his extraordinary voice, Mercury helped lead Queen to its great heights. After contracting HIV, he knew that his time would run out, motivating him to take to the studio. His work included anthems that showcased his unwavering dedication, such as “The Show Must Go On.” Others, like “These Are the Days of Our Lives,” recalled simpler moments that were lost to time. The most gut-wrenching was “Mother Love,” which he never got to finish. Besides the lyrics longing for peace and references to the pain he was experiencing, the instrumental includes bits of every piece they made, creating a heartbreaking tribute to one of music’s most beloved performers.

#2: “Hurt” (2003)

Johnny Cash

Although he didn’t write it himself, Johnny Cash gave this song an entirely new meaning. After a long, successful career, Johnny Cash saw the end approaching. After a litany of issues with his well-being, the writing was on the wall, resulting in his decision to cover Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt.” He took the already bleak premise and transformed it into a tortured self-reflection of a man looking back on his complicated life and the choices he made. The accompanying video added to the vision, showing Cash surrounded by things in different phases of deterioration. Using his wife’s memory as inspiration, he was able to take his remaining days and use them to create one of the most respected covers in the modern era.

#1: “Lazarus” (2016)

David Bowie

Having the chance to say goodbye is a privilege that not all artists get to enjoy. David Bowie seemed to know that, and therefore constructed a song that put both his creativity and emotional intelligence on display. After being diagnosed with liver cancer, he kept the news under wraps, while quietly working on his last release. The crowning achievement of his final days was “Lazarus,” the last single he ever created. It’s a direct reference to his own expiration, while also serving as a personal elegy. With it, Bowie forced the world to reckon with the fact that it would soon be losing a star – and while it softened the blow, people still weren’t prepared for his demise less than a month afterwards.

What swan songs do you think packs the hardest emotional punch? Let us know in the comments below!