Children's Heritage/D.O.A.

"Children's Heritage/D.O.A." is a 7" vinyl single by Texas hard rock band Bloodrock released under Capitol Records in early 1971. The version of "D.O.A." featured on the single is roughly half the length of the album version found on Bloodrock 2. The song gives a grisly first person account of the aftermath of a plane crash. The vocalist describes the bloody sheets he lies in with a missing arm and a dead girl lying next to him, as the ambulance attendant looks over him with little hope. This narrative is backed by a rather eerie and grave organ riff & background sounds of ambulance sirens, creating a decidedly bleak and unsettling atmosphere. The song ends with the ambulance siren being shut off, indicating that the patient has died and is Dead On Arrival.

According to lead guitarist, Lee Pickens, "D.O.A." is based on the ill fated Wichita State University football team airplane crash of Oct. 2, 1970.

In March, 1971, many US radio stations and high schools banned "D.O.A.". Despite a lack of air-play, the single still reached #36 on the Billboard chart.

Track listing

1. "Children's Heritage" – 3:30
2. "D.O.A." – 4:32

LYRICS

Bloodrock 2

Laying here looking at the ceiling Someone lays a sheet across my chest Something warm is flowing down my fingers Pain is flowing all through my back

I try to move my arms and there's no feeling And when I look I see there's nothing there The face beside me stopped it's holy bleeding The girl I knew has such a distant stare

I remember We were flying along and hit something in the air I remember We were flying along and hit something in the air

Then I looked straight at the attendant His face is pale as it can be He bends and whispers something softly He says there's no chance for me

I remember We were flying along and hit something in the air I remember We were flying along and hit something in the air

Life is flowing out my body Pain is flowing out with my blood The sheets are red and moist where I'm lying God in Heaven, teach me how to die

I remember We were flying along and hit something in the air I remember We were flying along and hit something in the air

Known Covers of D.O.A.

• Manilla Road on The Courts of Chaos (album)