Don't Let It Die is a song written, produced, and sung by Hurricane Smith. It was originally recorded by Smith as a demo in the hopes that

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...

would record the song. Following advice from

Mickie Most Michael Peter Hayes (20 June 1938 – 30 May 2003), known as Mickie Most, was an English record producer behind acts such as the Animals, Herman's Hermits, the Nashville Teens, Donovan, Lulu, Suzi Quatro, Hot Chocolate, Arrows, Racey and t ...

, Smith decided to release it himself. It made #2 on the UK Singles Chart, with Middle Of The Road's Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep keeping it from the top spot. Smith received the 1971

Ivor Novello award The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Welsh entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and Musical composition, composing. They have been presented annually in London by the The Ivors Academy, Ivors Academy, formerly called the Britis ...

for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.Lister, David, ''Pop ballads bite back in lyrical fashion'',

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

, 28 May 1994 The lyrics have an ecological theme, stressing the beauty and fragility of nature, and the human responsibility to look after it, not to "let it die".

References

1971 singles Norman Smith (record producer) songs 1970 songs {{1970s-pop-song-stub