| "I'll Fly Away" | |
|---|---|
| byAlbert E. Brumley | |
| Genre | Hymn |
| Text | by Albert E. Brumley |
| Language | English |
| Meter | 9.4.9.4 |
| Melody | "I'll Fly Away" |
| Composed | 1929 (1929) |
| Published | 1932 (1932) |
"I'll Fly Away"(Roud 18437) is ahymn written between 1929 and 1932 byAlbert E. Brumley and published in 1932 by the Hartford Music company in a collection titledWonderful Message. Albert took three years to write the song after getting the idea while picking cotton in 1928. Over the years multiple derivative versions have been created and will be licensed for decades to come.[1][2] Brumley's writing was influenced by the 1924 secularballad "The Prisoner's Song".
"I'll Fly Away" has been called the most recordedgospel song.[1][2] It is frequently used in worship services byBaptists,Pentecostals,Nazarenes, theChurches of Christ and many Presbyterians andMethodists.[3] It appears in manyhymnals where it is listed under the topics ofeternal life,heaven andacceptance. It is astandard song atbluegrassjam sessions and is often performed at funerals, includingjazz funerals in theNew Orleans tradition.
Albert E. Brumley has been described as the "pre-eminent gospel songwriter" of the 20th century with over 600 published songs.[3] 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 whilepicking cotton on his father's farm inRock Island, Oklahoma.[1][3] 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."[1] The song Brumley described appears to be "The Prisoner's Song".[4] 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.[1] Brumley has stated, "When I wrote it, I had no idea that it would become so universally popular."[1] Other earlier nineteenth centuryslave songs also contained similar lyrics, stating: "I'll fly away to glory; I'll fly away to my heavenly home, And I'll shout glory."[5]
| "I'll Fly Away" | |
|---|---|
| Single bySelah Jubilee Singers | |
| Released | ? |
| Recorded | February 21, 1941 |
| Genre | gospel |
| Label | Decca 7831 (reissued Document DOCD 5499)[6][7] |
| Songwriter | Albert E. Brumley |
One of the earliest recordings of "I'll Fly Away" was made by theSelah Jubilee Singers in February 1941 forDecca Records. The group was founded around 1927 byThermon Ruth, a disc jockey at radio stationWOR in Brooklyn New York.[6]
| "I'll Fly Away" | |
|---|---|
| Single by James and Martha Carson | |
| Released | 1951 |
| Recorded | ? |
| Genre | gospel |
| Label | Capitol 1415 |
| Songwriter | Albert E. Brumley |
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.[9]
| "I'll Fly Away" | |
|---|---|
| Single byChuck Wagon Gang | |
| Released | 1950(?)[11] |
| Recorded | December 16, 1948[12] |
| Genre | gospel |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter | Albert E. Brumley |
TheChuck Wagon Gang's 1948 recording of "I'll Fly Away" forColumbia sold over one million copies. It ranks among the top selling gospel records of all-time[13] and is listed among the top selling songs of the 1940s in general.[14] In 1950,Billboard 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.[12]Hank Williams, Sr. released a cover version in 1949.
In a history posted by the current Chuck Wagon Gang, their recording of "I'll Fly Away" is described as the "first commercially licensed" release.[12] Their recording appears to have had two releases on Columbia, first as a B-side in 1949, then as an A-side in 1950.
In 2017, the Chuck Wagon Gang's recording of "I'll Fly Away" was selected for preservation in theNational Recording Registry by theLibrary of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[15]
In 1956, theKossoy Sisters included "I'll Fly Away" on the album,Bowling Green, which featured instrumental backing byErik Darling. The Kossoys, twin sisters Irene Saletan and Ellen Christenson, practicedclose harmony singing, which is exemplified on this track. Their recording was introduced to a wider audience when it was included in the 2000Coen Brothers film,O Brother, Where Art Thou?.[16][17]
George Jones recorded an energetic version on his classic 1965 gospel LPOld Brush Arbors.
The Stanley brothers released a version in 1966 with Ralph Stanley later releasing a solo version on hisShine On album on Rebel Records in 2005.
Bob Marley adapted areggae version in 1973 and recorded it withthe Wailers as part of hisRastaman Chant.[18]
There have been numerous recordings of "I'll Fly Away" since its inclusion in the 2000 filmO Brother Where Art Thou?. Although the Kossoy Sisters recording was used in the film itself, a contemporary recording byAlison Krauss andGillian Welch was chosen for theO Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. The spare recording, produced byT-Bone Burnett, features Welch on lead vocals with Krauss singing harmony. Their voices are accompanied byMike Compton on mandolin andChris Sharp on guitar. The soundtrack sold over eight million copies, reached the top position on at least four ofBillboard's album charts, and was namedAlbum of the Year andBest Soundtrack album at the44th Grammy Awards in February 2002.[19][20]
Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch performed the song again for a concert of May 24, 2000, at theRyman Auditorium that featured many of the artists from theO Brother soundtrack. Film from the concert was used to create the 2000 documentary,Down from the Mountain. Krauss and Welch's live performance is included as the final track on theDown from the Mountain soundtrack album, which sold over 500,000 copies, won theGrammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album, and appeared on several ofBillboard's charts.[21][22]
Both the studio and live performances by Krauss and Welch were popular amongfolk music disc jockeys. The two recordings were ranked at No. 7 and No. 47 respectively on the Top Songs of 2001 Folk Radio airplay chart.[23]
"I'll Fly Away" was included as an interlude inKanye West's 2004 album,The College Dropout. The rendition was sung byTony Williams.[24][25][26]
The Christian rock bandJars of Clay have recorded "I'll Fly Away" twice, first, for the 2004 various artistscompilation album,WOW Worship: Red and again for their own 2005 album,Redemption Songs. The latter features guest vocals bySarah Kelly.Redemption Songs reached No. 1 onBillboard'sTop Christian Albums chart and No. 71 on theBillboard 200.[27] Their recording of the song was popular enough onChristian radio to be placed at No. 1 on a list of the Top Songs of 2005 by at least one station.[28]
Alan Jackson 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 onBillboard's charts for Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums, as well as No. 4 on theBillboard 200.[29][30]
Quebecois musician and storytellerFred Pellerin recorded a version of the song sung in french,Je m'envolerai, on his 2019 albumAprès.[31]
A familial rendition of "I'll Fly Away", being performed at a close relation's funeral, is featured from 0:10-0:22 ofJID's song "Kody Blu 31", off of his 2022 album "The Forever Story".[32]
On hisNew Hymns album,Forrest Frank covered the song in alo-fi/rap style withHulvey.
This will likely always be an incomplete list. The listings atAllMusic are in excess of 1000 entries.[33]
"I'll Fly Away" was sampled without permission for theGrammy-winning song "I'll Be Missing You" recorded in 1997 byPuff Daddy andFaith Evans. In 2000, the songwriter's heirs, Albert E. Brumley & Sons, Inc. settled a copyright infringement suit filed againstArista Records, 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.[37]
TheJacksonville State University marching band, The Marching Southerners, lead football fans in singing "I'll Fly Away" at the end of each home football game onBurgess–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.[38]
A live recording of it was played at the funeral of Marching Southerners member Darius Whited on August 6, 2022, to celebrate his life.[39]
