I'll Fly Away
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"I'll Fly Away," written by Albert E. Brumley in 1929 [1], is a hymn most associated with American Baptists[2] and the Church of Christ. It is an optimistic song about an earthly death that leads to everlasting life in glory with Christ.
"I'll Fly Away" has been called the most recorded gospel music song [3], beginning with a recording by James and Martha Carson, the "Barn Dance Sweethearts" of WSB Atlanta, in 1946, followed two years later by the Chuck Wagon Gang in 1948.
The hymn has been covered by numerous singers, but usually associated with country or gospel music, particularly the variety referred to as "shape note music".
Performers who have recorded the hymn include:[4]
- Selah Jubilee Singers (1941 - Decca 7831)[1]
- Ian Matthews/Plainsong (In Search of Amelia Earhart, 1972)
- Vern Gosdin (If Jesus Comes Tomorrow, 1985)
- Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, 2000)
- Alan Jackson (Precious Memories, 2006)
- Brenda Lee (Sweet Nothings, 2002)
- Tammy Wynette
- Crystal Gayle
- Ralph Stanley (Shine On, 2005)
- Kanye West (The College Dropout, 2004)
- Johnny Cash (My Mother's Hymn Book, 2004)
- Jars of Clay (Redemption Songs, 2005)
- Hot 8 Brass Band (Rock With The Hot 8, 2005)
- Andy Griffith (Somebody Bigger Than You and I)
- The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (Funeral for a Friend, 2004)
- The Word (The Word, 2001)
- Avalon (Faith: A Hymns Collection, 2006)
- Kossoy Sisters with Erik Darling (Bowling Green, 1956)
- The Blind Boys of Alabama (Down in New Orleans, 2008)
- Randy Travis (Worship & Faith, 2003)
- Performed by Carolyn Hester on her debut album with Columbia in 1962. Also featured Bob Dylan playing harmonica. It was at this session that Hester turned John Hammond onto Bob Dylan and later signed him to Columbia.
- Bob Dylan
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[edit] Occurrences in Film
- The television series I'll Fly Away was named after the hymn.
- The hymn appears on the soundtrack of Spike Lee's film "When the Levees Broke."
- An episode of the television series The Waltons included Jason singing this hymn numerous times.
- This hymn was played during the final scene of the final episode of the series 7th Heaven. It was played and sung by Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch.
- This hymn was also played on the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?".
- This hymn is played in "The Apostle" and is on the movie's soundtrack.
[edit] Other Occurrences
Occurrences where the song or melody is heard, but is not an official reproduction.
- The melody also occurs in Puff Daddy's rap elegy "I'll Be Missing You."
- Hot Buttered Rum performed "I'll Fly Away" at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA on February 5th, 2005.
- A short version of the hymn is played during the Powdermilk Biscuit Break in Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" on September 15, 2007.
- A short version of the hymn was sung in Tyler Perry's stage play Meet The Browns
- Bruce Springsteen performed it in memory of longtime bandmate Danny Federici in Tampa, Florida on April 22, 2008, in his first show following Federici's passing five days earlier.[5]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Dixon, Robert M. W. Blues and Gospel Records: 1890-1943, Oxford University Press (1997), page 785 - ISBN 0198162391
