I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (Bon Jovi song)

For other uses, see I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (disambiguation).

"I'll Sleep When I'm Dead"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Keep the Faith
Released	July 26, 1993 (1993-07-26)
Genre	Glam metal[1]
Length	4:43 (album version) 4:09 (edit)
Label	Mercury Jambco
Songwriter(s)	Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora Desmond Child
Producer(s)	Bob Rock
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"In These Arms" (1993) "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" (1993) "I Believe" (1993)
Music video
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead at YouTube

"I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on July 26, 1993 by Mercury and Jambco, as the fourth single from their fifth studio album, Keep the Faith (1992). The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 97 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No. 29 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks charts. The grave of the Doors' lead singer Jim Morrison was featured in the song's music video.

Live performances

The driving drumbeat and catchy chorus of "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" have made it a crowd favourite during live performances. It had the distinction of being one of the few Bon Jovi songs to be played at virtually every live concert since its introduction, until The Circle Tour in 2010, where it was only played occasionally. When played, it is often incorporated into a medley with a cover song inserted into the middle, such as "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones, or "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" by the Undisputed Truth.

Concert footage of "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" can be viewed on the Live From London and The Crush Tour DVDs.

Track listings

• US CD

1. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" 4:44
2. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (Live)"

• UK CD

1. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" 4:44
2. "Blaze of Glory (Live)" 5:50 Recorded live at the Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, New Jersey—December 1992
3. "Wild in the Streets (Live)" 4:58 Recorded live at Tampa Sundome, Florida—March 1993

• UK cassette single

1. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" 4:44
2. "Never Say Goodbye (Live Acoustic Version)" 5:30 Recorded live at the Miami Arena, Florida—March 1993

Personnel

• Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals
• Richie Sambora – guitars
• Alec John Such – bass guitar
• Tico Torres – drums
• David Bryan – keyboards
• Bob Rock – producer ("I'll Sleep When I'm Dead")
• Obie O'Brien – producer/engineer ("Blaze of Glory (Live)", "Wild In The Streets (Live)", "Never Say Goodbye (Live Acoustic Version)"), mix ("Wild In The Streets (Live)", "Never Say Goodbye (Live Acoustic Version)")
• Nicoloa – mix ("Wild In The Streets (Live)")
• Margery Greenspan – art direction
• Patricia Lie – design
• Frank Ockenfels – photography

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[2]	24
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3]	19
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4]	40
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[5]	37
Europe (European Hit Radio)[6]	33
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7]	20
Ireland (IRMA)[8]	14
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9]	15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10]	17
Portugal (AFP)[11]	6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12]	35
UK Singles (OCC)[13]	17
UK Airplay (Music Week)[14]	8
US Billboard Hot 100[15]	97
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[16]	29

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[17]	Gold	35,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	July 26, 1993	7-inch vinyl CD cassette	Mercury Jambco	[18]
Japan	September 5, 1993	Mini-CD		[19]

References

1. Sletvold, Robert (January 2, 1993). "BON JOVI PLAYS FOR THE CAMERAS AT STABLER". The Morning Call. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
2. "Bon Jovi – I'll Sleep When I'm Dead". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
3. "Bon Jovi – I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
4. "Bon Jovi – I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
5. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 34. August 21, 1993. p. 23. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
6. "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 35. August 28, 1993. p. 26. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
7. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I'll Sleep When I'm Dead". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 37, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
10. "Bon Jovi – I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
11. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 37. August 21, 1993. p. 14. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
12. "Bon Jovi – I'll Sleep When I'm Dead". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
14. "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. August 14, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
15. "Bon Jovi Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
16. "Bon Jovi Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
17. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
18. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 24, 1993. p. 25. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
19. "アイル・スリープ・ホエン・アイム・デッド | ボン・ジョヴィ" [I'll Sleep When I'm Dead | Bon Jovi] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 29, 2023.