`` Spirit in the Sky '' is a song written and originally recorded by Norman Greenbaum and released in late 1969 . The single became a gold record , selling two million copies from 1969 to 1970 and reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart ( April 18 , 1970 ) , where it lasted for 15 weeks in the Top 100 . Billboard ranked the record the No. 22 song of 1970 . It also climbed to number one on the UK , Australian and Canadian charts in 1970 . Rolling Stone ranked `` Spirit in the Sky '' No. 333 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time . The song was featured on the 1969 album of the same name . Cover versions by Doctor and the Medics and Gareth Gates have also made the number 1 spot in the UK .

Question: who did the original spirit in the sky
Answer: Norman Greenbaum