"Dry Bones" is a

folk song Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be c ...

, included in Harry Smith's ''

Anthology of American Folk Music ''Anthology of American Folk Music'' is a three-album compilation, released in 1952 by Folkways Records, of eighty-four recordings of American folk, blues and country music made and issued from 1926 to 1933 by a variety of performers. The album wa ...

'' under the heading "Social Music". On this collection it is sung by

Bascom Lamar Lunsford Bascom Lamar Lunsford (March 21, 1882 – September 4, 1973) was a folklorist, performer of traditional Appalachian music, and lawyer from western North Carolina. He was often known by the nickname "Minstrel of the Appalachians." Biography ...

(1929). The song is also performed by

alternative country Alternative country, or alternative country rock (sometimes alt-country, insurgent country, Americana, or y'allternative), is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that differ significantly in style ...

duo

The Handsome Family The Handsome Family is an American music duo consisting of husband and wife Brett and Rennie Sparks formed in Chicago, Illinois, and as of 2001 based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are perhaps best known for their song " Far from Any Road" from ...

on their 2003 album ''

Singing Bones ''Singing Bones'' is the sixth studio album released by The Handsome Family. It was released in 2003 by Carrot Top Records (North America) / Loose Music (Europe). It includes a cover of the folk song " Dry Bones," known from Bascom Lamar Lunsf ...

''. The song also features on Golden Opportunities 2, an EP released by Okkervil River in 2011.

Synopsis

This song's five verses refer to different biblical stories. The first verse refers to Enoch from Book of Genesis, Genesis 5:21-24. Verse 2 is based on Acts of the Apostles, Acts 16:25-26. The third verse refers to Moses and the burning bush from Book of Exodus, Exodus 3:2. The fourth verse (and the title) is based on the story from Ezekiel 37:1-10. The last verse hints to the familiar story from Book of Genesis, Genesis 3, although in Lunsford's version what Eve is saying is unclear.

Lyrics

Lunsford's version on the Anthology (recorded in February 1928 in Ashland, Kentucky). This transcription is modified from Judy Cook's published lyric.Judy Cook's homepage
. Retrieved June 19, 2008. Lunsford's version differ from Cook's version on several points and these differences are incorporated in the version presented here. (Some passages in Lunsford's rendition are difficult to interpret. For these lines Cook's version are used, but these lines are indicated.): :''Old Enoch he lived to be three-hundred and sixty-five'' :''When the Lord came and took him back to heaven alive.'' :Chorus: :''I saw, I saw the light from heaven'' :''Shining all around.'' :''I saw the light come shining.'' :''I saw the light come down.'' :''Paul bound in prison, them prison walls fell down'' :''The prison keeper shouted, “Redeeming Love I’ve found.”'' :''When Moses saw that a-burning bush he walked it round and round.'' :''And the Lord said, “Moses, you’s treading holy ground.'' :''Dry bones in that valley got up and took a little walk.'' :''The deaf could hear, and the dumb could talk.'' :''Adam and Eve in the garden under that sycamore tree.'' :''Eve said, “Adam, Old Satan is a-tempting me.”'' Guitar Chords Capo 1 Intro: G C D Verses: G Chorus: D C D G

References

American folk songs Songwriter unknown Year of song unknown {{Folk-song-stub