"I'll Fly Away" is a

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...

written in 1929 by

Albert E. Brumley Albert Edward Brumley (October 29, 1905 – November 15, 1977) was an American shape note music composer and publisher, prolific in the genre of southern gospel. Biography Brumley was born near Spiro, Oklahoma on October 29, 1905, into a famil ...

and published in 1932 by the Hartford Music company in a collection titled ''Wonderful Message''.Richard Matteson, Jr.
''The Bluegrass Picker's Tune Book''
Mel Bay Publications, 2006 (accessed at Google books on March 4, 2011) Brumley's writing was influenced by the 1924 secular

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

, " The Prisoner's Song". "I'll Fly Away" has been called the most recorded

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

song, and it is frequently used in worship services by

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement

s, Nazarenes, the

Churches of Christ The Churches of Christ is a loose association of autonomous Christian congregations based on the ''sola scriptura'' doctrine. Their practices are based on Bible texts and draw on the early Christian church as described in the New Testament. T ...

and many

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

s.Joe Edwards
'I'll Fly Away' hymn classic
Associated Press/ Kentucky New Era, March 13, 1987, page 4D It appears in many hymnals where it is listed under the topics of eternal life,

heaven Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as deities, angels, souls, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside. According to the belie ...

and

acceptance Acceptance in human psychology is a person's assent to the reality of a situation, recognizing a process or condition (often a negative or uncomfortable situation) without attempting to change it or protest it. The concept is close in meaning to ...

. It is a standard song at bluegrass

jam session A jam session is a relatively informal musical event, process, or activity where musicians, typically instrumentalists, play improvised solos and vamp over tunes, drones, songs, and chord progressions. To "jam" is to improvise music without exte ...

s and is often performed at funerals.

History

Albert E. Brumley has been described as the "pre-eminent gospel

songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...

" of the 20th century with over 600 published songs. Other popular songs by Brumley include "Jesus, Hold My Hand", "Turn Your Radio On", "I'll Meet You in the Morning", and "This World Is Not My Home". According to interviews, Brumley came up with the idea for the song while picking cotton on his father's farm in

Rock Island, Oklahoma Rock Island is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 646 at the 2010 census, a decline of 8.9 percent from the figure of 709 recorded ...

. Brumley says that as he worked he was "humming the old ballad that went like this: 'If I had the wings of an angel, over these prison walls I would fly,' and suddenly it dawned on me that I could use this plot for a gospel-type song." The song Brumley described appears to be " The Prisoner's Song".W.K. McNeil
Encyclopeida of American Gospel Music
Routlage, 2005, page 54 It was an additional three years later until Brumley worked out the rest of the song, paraphrasing one line from the secular ballad to read, "Like a bird from prison bars has flown" using prison as a metaphor for earthly life. Brumley has stated, "When I wrote it, I had no idea that it would become so universally popular." Other earlier nineteenth century

slave songs A work song is a piece of music closely connected to a form of work, either sung while conducting a task (usually to coordinate timing) or a song linked to a task which might be a connected narrative, description, or protest song. Definitions and ...

also contained similar lyrics, stating: "I'll fly away to glory; I'll fly away to my heavenly home, And I'll shout glory."

Recordings

The Selah Jubilee Singers

One of the earliest recordings of "I'll Fly Away" was made by the Selah Jubilee Singers in February 1941 for

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

. The group was founded around 1927 by

Thermon Ruth Thurman Ruth (also Therman Ruth, Thermon Ruth and T. Ruth) (March 6, 1914 – September 13, 2002), who got his start in vaudeville in 1927, was a gospel singer, deejay and concert promoter, and a forefather of such rhythm and blues (R&B) produ ...

, a disc jockey at radio station WOR in Brooklyn New York. * eleased date?– Decca 7831 – "Hide me in thy Bosom"/"I'll Fly Away"

James and Martha Carson

James and Martha Carson, also known as the "Barn Dance Sweethearts" released their first recordings on White Church in 1947 and later signed with Capitol in 1949. They recorded 22 numbers for Capitol and "I'll Fly Away" is one of a half-dozen that "did well" for them. * 1951 – Capitol 1415 – "I'll Fly Away"/"We Will Rise and Shine"

The Chuck Wagon Gang

The Chuck Wagon Gang's 1948 recording of "I'll Fly Away" for Columbia sold over one million copies and ranks among the top selling gospel records of all-time, and is listed among the top selling songs of the 1940s in general. In 1950, ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' reported that American disc jockeys voted the Chuck Wagon Gang "18th most popular of all singing groups in the nation," considering all music genres, and the third most popular recording artist for Columbia.

Hank Williams, Sr. Hank Williams (born Hiram Williams; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he reco ...

released a cover version in 1949. In a history given by the current Chuck Wagon Gang, their recording of "I'll Fly Away" is described as the "first commercially licensed" release." Their recording appears to have had two releases on Columbia, first as a B-side in 1949, then as an A-side in 1950. * 1949 – Columbia 20599 – "Dream Boat"/"I'll Fly Away" * 1950 – Columbia 20701 – "I'll Fly Away"/"Looking for a City" In 2017, the Chuck Wagon Gang's recording of "I'll Fly Away" was selected for preservation in the

National Recording Registry The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." The registry was established by the National Recording Preservati ...

by the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...

as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant."

The Kossoy Sisters

In 1956, the

Kossoy Sisters The Kossoy Sisters are identical twin sisters (Irene Saletan and Ellen Christenson) who performed American folk and old-time music. Irene sang mezzo-soprano vocal, and Ellen supplied soprano harmony, with Irene on guitar and Ellen playing the ...

included "I'll Fly Away" on the album, '' Bowling Green'', which featured instrumental backing by Erik Darling. The Kossoys, twin sisters Irene Saletan and Ellen Christenson, practiced close harmony singing, which is exemplified on this track. Their recording was introduced to a wider audience when it was included in the 2000 Coen Brothers film, '' O Brother, Where Art Thou?''.Dan Pashman
What's the Best "I'll Fly Away" Ever?
The Bryant Park Project: NPR, June 17, 2008

George Jones

George Jones recorded an energetic version on his classic 1965 gospel LP '' Old Brush Arbors''.

Bob Marley and the Wailers

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...

adapted a

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

version in 1973 and recorded it with

the Wailers ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

as part of his ''Rastaman Chant''.

Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch

There have been numerous recordings of "I'll Fly Away" since its inclusion in the 2000 film ''O Brother Where Art Thou?''. Although the Kossoy Sisters recording was used in the film itself, a contemporary recording by

Alison Krauss Alison Maria Krauss (born July 23, 1971) is an American bluegrass-country singer and musician. She entered the music industry at an early age, competing in local contests by the age of 8 and recording for the first time at 14. She signed with ...

and Gillian Welch was chosen for the '' O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' soundtrack. The spare recording, produced by

T-Bone Burnett Joseph Henry "T Bone" Burnett III (born January 14, 1948) is an American record producer, guitarist and songwriter. He rose to fame as a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band during the 1970s. He has received multiple Grammy awards for his work in film ...

, features Welch on lead vocals with Krauss singing harmony. Their voices are accompanied by Mike Compton on mandolin and Chris Sharp on guitar. The soundtrack sold over eight million copies, reached the top position on at least four of ''

s album charts, and was named

Album of the Year Album of the Year, often abbreviated to AOTY, may refer to: Awards * ARIA Award for Album of the Year, Australia * Brit Award for British Album of the Year, UK * Grammy Award for Album of the Year, US * Juno Award for Album of the Year, CA * Lati ...

and Best Soundtrack album at the

44th Grammy Awards The 44th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 27, 2002 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The main recipient was Alicia Keys, winning five Grammys, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for " Fallin'". U2 won four ...

in February 2002. Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch performed the song again for a concert of May 24, 2000 at the Ryman Auditorium that featured many of the artists from the ''O Brother'' soundtrack. Film from the concert was used to create the 2000 documentary, ''

Down from the Mountain ''Down from the Mountain'' is a 2000 documentary and concert film featuring a live performance by country and traditional music artists who participated in the Grammy-winning soundtrack recording for the Joel and Ethan Coen film, ''O Brother, W ...

''. Krauss and Welch's live performance is included as the final track on the ''Down from the Mountain'' soundtrack album, which sold over 500,000 copies, won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album, and appeared on several of ''Billboards charts. Both the studio and live performances by Krauss and Welch were popular among

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

disc jockeys. The two recordings were ranked at No. 7 and No. 47 respectively on the Top Songs of 2001 Folk Radio airplay chart.

Kanye West

"I'll Fly Away" was included as an interlude in

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...

's 2004 album, ''

The College Dropout ''The College Dropout'' is the debut studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on February 10, 2004, by Def Jam Recordings and Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records. In the years leading up to release, West had received pra ...

.'' The rendition was sung by John Legend.

Jars of Clay

The Christian rock band Jars of Clay have recorded "I'll Fly Away" twice, first, for the 2004 various artists

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

, '' WOW Worship: Red'' and again for their own 2005 album, ''

Redemption Songs ''Redemption Songs'' is the sixth full-length studio album by Jars of Clay. It was released by Essential Records on March 22, 2005. Overview ''Redemption Songs'' is a collection of reinvented hymns and spiritual songs. As part of a church co ...

''. The latter features guest vocals by

Sarah Kelly Sarah Jean Kelly Work ID No. 493703552 (born September 13, 1976) is an American contemporary Christian musician from Rockford, Illinois. She was signed to Gotee Records, a Christian label under EMI. Kelly is a two time Grammy Award nominee fo ...

. ''Redemption Songs'' reached No. 1 on ''Billboard's'' Top Christian Albums chart and No. 71 on the ''Billboard'' 200.''Redemption Songs'' charts and awards
at Allmusic.com Their recording of the song was popular enough on

Christian radio Christian radio is a Christian media radio format that focus on programming with a Christian message. Many such broadcasters play contemporary Christian music, though many programs include sermons, radio dramas, as well as news and talk progra ...

to be placed at No. 1 on a list of the Top Songs of 2005 by at least one station.

Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson Alan Eugene Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter. He is known for blending traditional honky-tonk and mainstream country pop sounds (for a style widely regarded as "neotraditional country"), as well as penning many o ...

included "I'll Fly Away" on his first gospel album, '' Precious Memories'' (2006). He offers an up-tempo performance with guitar and piano solos. Jackson's album sold over 1 million copies and reached the top position on ''Billboard''s charts for Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums, as well as No. 4 on the ''Billboard'' 200.

List of recordings

This will likely always be an incomplete list. The listings at

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

are in excess of 1000 entries.Search results for "I'll Fly Away"
at

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

.com * 1941 – Selah Jubilee Singers, single (

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in We ...

7831) * 1968 –

The Chambers Brothers The Chambers Brothers are an American psychedelic soul band, best known for their eleven-minute 1967 psychedelic soul hit "Time Has Come Today". The group was part of the wave of new music that integrated American blues and gospel traditions wit ...

on ''Groovin' Time'' ( Folkways FW31008) medley "Rough and Rocky Road / I'll Fly Away"">medley_(music).html" ;"title="erformed as a medley (music)">medley "Rough and Rocky Road / I'll Fly Away"* 1972 – Andy Griffith on ''Somebody Bigger Than You and I'' (re-released 1996, Sony) * 2005 – Mississippi John Hurt on ''D.C. Blues: Library of Congress Recordings, Vol. 2'' [Recorded July 1963]

Sampling lawsuit

"I'll Fly Away" was sampled without permission for the Grammy-winning song "

I'll Be Missing You "I'll Be Missing You" is a song by American rapper Puff Daddy and American singer Faith Evans, featuring R&B group 112, in memory of fellow Bad Boy Records artist (and Evans's husband) Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, who was murdere ...

" recorded in 1997 by

Puff Daddy Puff may refer to: Science and technology * Puff, a small quantity of gas or smoke in the air ** Puff, a light gust of wind ** Exhalation ** Inhalation * Puff model, volcanic ash tracking model developed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks * PUF ...

and Faith Evans. In 2000, the songwriter's heirs, Albert E. Brumley & Sons, Inc. settled a copyright infringement suit filed against

Arista Records Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...

, Faith Evans, Illegal Songs Inc., Chyna Baby Music, Janice Combs Publishing Inc., Magnetic Publishing Ltd. and Bad Boy Entertainment. In the settlement, the defendants acknowledged that Albert E. Brumley & Sons were the rightful copyright owners of "I'll Fly Away" and compensated them for an undisclosed amount.

The Marching Southerners

The

Jacksonville State University Jacksonville State University (JSU) is a public university in Jacksonville, Alabama. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in six academic schools leading to bachelor's degree, bachelor's, master's degree, master's, educati ...

marching band, The Marching Southerners, lead football fans in singing "I'll Fly Away" at the end of each home football game on Burgess-Snow Field. Team members link arm-in-arm with each other before leaving the field and join the band, coaches, cheerleaders, university president and the crowd of fans in singing the hymn. A live recording of it was played at the funeral of Marching Southerners member Darius Whited on August 6th, 2022 to celebrate his life.

In print

Hymnals and other church texts

* ''African American Heritage Hymnal'' (#601) * ''

Baptist Hymnal The ''Baptist Hymnal'' is the primary book of hymns and songs used for Christian worship in churches affiliated with the United States denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention. The title was first used for a Convention publication in 1956, ...

'', 2008 (#601) * ''Celebration Hymnal'' (#779) * ''Church Hymnal'' (#333), 1951 (renewed 1979) * ''The Faith We Sing'' (#2282) * ''Favorite Songs and Hymns'' (#179) * ''Heavenly Highway Hymns'' (#54) * ''The New National Baptist Hymnal'' (#432), 1977 * ''Sing the Faith: New Hymns for Presbyterians'' (#2282)

Other songbooks

* ''Wonderful Message'', Hartford Music Company, 1932 his is the original publication of the song* ''The Bluegrass Picker's Tune Book'', Mel Bay Publications, 2006

Occurrences in film and television

* Two episodes of the television series '' The Waltons'' (1971–1980) featured this hymn – one performed on the radio by a studio cover group called "Mayf Nutter & The Sunrise Gospeleers" in the 1975 episode "Breakdown", and the other as a live performance by

Jon Walmsley Jon Walmsley is a musician, songwriter, actor and producer. Acting career Walmsley is known for his accomplishments as an actor, most notably a nine-season run as Jason Walton on ''The Waltons''. He also returned for all of the ''Waltons'' re ...

and Linda Purl in the 1977 episode "The Heartbreaker".Song Catalog - TV
at brumleymusic.com * The 1991-93 television series "

I'll Fly Away "I'll Fly Away" is a hymn written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley and published in 1932 by the Hartford Music company in a collection titled ''Wonderful Message''.Richard Matteson, Jr.''The Bluegrass Picker's Tune Book'' Mel Bay Publications, 2006 ...

" was named after the hymn. * This hymn is played in the 1997 film, '' The Apostle'' and is performed by Gary Chapman and Wynonna Judd on the

soundtrack A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...

. * The Kossoy Sisters version was used in the 2000 film '' O Brother, Where Art Thou?,'' and the Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch version is included on the

. * The hymn appears on the soundtrack of

Spike Lee Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. He made his directorial debut ...

's 2006 documentary film ''

When the Levees Broke ''When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts'' is a 2006 documentary film directed by Spike Lee about the devastation of New Orleans, Louisiana following the failure of the levees during Hurricane Katrina. It was filmed in late August and ...

''.Song Catalog - movies
at brumleymusic.com * This Krauss & Welch version was used during the final scene of the final episode ("And Away We Go," 2007) of the television series '' 7th Heaven''. * The hymn is sung by mourners at a funeral in the 2008 film '' The Curious Case of Benjamin Button''. * The first-season finale of the 2010 ''

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...

'' program '' Treme'' is named after the hymn, and it is performed at the end of the episode as part of a second line by the

Treme Brass Band The Treme Brass Band is a marching brass band from New Orleans, Louisiana led by snare drummer Benny Jones Sr. The band, which plays traditional New Orleans-style brass band music, features a shifting lineup that has included trumpeters Kermit ...

.Allison Keyes
The Sounds And Soul Of Treme
''

Tell Me More ''Tell Me More'' was a National Public Radio interview show that was hosted by journalist Michel Martin. ''Tell Me More'' was first introduced online in December 2006 through an "open piloting" program called "Rough Cuts." Martin and the show's ...

'', NPR, August 26, 2010 * The 2022 biopic ''

Elvis Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

'' features a young

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

and his band members singing the hymn before going onstage for one of their performances.

References

External links

{{authority control 1929 songs 2005 singles 20th-century hymns American Christian hymns Capitol Records singles United States National Recording Registry recordings Songs written by Albert E. Brumley