I'll Fly Away
Encyclopedia
"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. Brumley's writing was influenced in part by an older secular ballad
.
"I'll Fly Away" has been called the most recorded gospel
song, and it is frequently used in worship services by Baptist
s, Pentecostals, Nazarene
s, the Churches of Christ and many Methodists. It appears in many hymnal
s where it is listed under the topics of eternal life
, heaven
and acceptance
. It is a standard song
at bluegrass
jam session
s and is often performed at funeral
s.
" of the 20th century with over 600 published songs. Other titles of his include "Turn Your Radio On", "I'll Meet You in the Morning", and "The 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
. 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" 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 an analogy for earthly life. Brumley has stated, "When I wrote it, I had no idea that it would become so universally popular."
in February 1941 for Decca Records
. The group was founded around 1927 by Thermon Ruth, a disc jockey at radio station WOR in Brooklyn New York.
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
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.
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.
included "I'll Fly Away" on the album, Bowling Green, which featured instrumental backing by Erik Darling. The Kossoys, actually twin sisters Irene Saletan and Ellen Christenson, are known for their 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?
.
a version that he learned from Jim Brewer
. Their version included a new section of music and lyrics in the middle. The live recordings were only made available after Goodman's death in 1984. They are included on The Steve Goodman Anthology (1994) and Live at The Earl of Old Town (2006). In one of the recordings Goodman tells his audience, "This is the song that proves you don't have to know very much about Jesus
to like spirituals."
and Gillian Welch
was chosen for the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack
. The spare recording, produced by T-Bone Burnett
, 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 Billboard
s album charts, and was named Album of the Year
and Best Soundtrack album at the 44th Grammy Awards in February 2002.
Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch performed the song again for a May 24, 2000 concert 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
. Krauss and Welch's live performance is included as the final track on the Down from the Mountain soundtrack album, which sold over 500 thousand copies, won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album
, and appeared on several of Billboard's charts.
Both the studio and live performances by Krauss and Welch were popular among folk music
disk jockeys. The two recordings were ranked at No. 7 and No. 47 respectively on the Top Songs of 2001 Folk Radio airplay chart.
have recorded "I'll Fly Away" twice, first, for the 2004 various artists compilation album
, WOW Worship: Red and again for their own 2005 album, Redemption Songs
. The latter features guest vocals by Sarah Kelly
. Redemption Songs reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart and No. 71 on the Billboard 200
. Their recording of the song was popular enough on Christian radio
to be placed at No. 1 on a list of the Top Songs of 2005 by at least one station.
.
song "I'll Be Missing You
" recorded in 1997 by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans
. In 2000, the songwriter's heirs, Albert E. Brumley & Sons, Inc. settled a copyright infringement suit filed against Arista 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.
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley
Albert E. Brumley
Albert Edward Brumley was a shape note gospel music composer and publisher.Brumley was born near Spiro, Oklahoma on October 29, 1905. Pre-Dustbowl Oklahoma was primarily made up of sparse agricultural communities; Brumley's family was no different. He spent much of his early life chopping and...
and published in 1932 by the Hartford Music company in a collection titled Wonderful Message. Brumley's writing was influenced in part by an older secular ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
.
"I'll Fly Away" has been called the most recorded gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
song, and it is frequently used in worship services by Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
s, Pentecostals, Nazarene
Church of the Nazarene
The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged from the 19th century Holiness movement in North America with its members colloquially referred to as Nazarenes. It is the largest Wesleyan-holiness denomination in the world. At the end of 2010, the Church of the...
s, the Churches of Christ and many Methodists. It appears in many hymnal
Hymnal
Hymnal or hymnary or hymnbook is a collection of hymns, i.e. religious songs, usually in the form of a book. The earliest hand-written hymnals are known since Middle Ages in the context of European Christianity...
s where it is listed under the topics of eternal life
Eternal life (Christianity)
In Christianity the term eternal life traditionally refers to continued life after death, rather than immortality. While scholars such as John H. Leith assert that...
, heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
and acceptance
Acceptance
Acceptance is a person's agreement to experience a situation, to follow a process or condition without attempting to change it, protest, or exit....
. It is a standard song
Standard (music)
In music, a standard is a tune or song of established popularity.-See also:* Blues standard* Jazz standard* Pop standard* Great American Songbook-Further reading:* Greatest Rock Standards, published by Hal Leonard ISBN 0793588391...
at bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
jam session
Jam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
s and is often performed at funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
s.
History
Albert E. Brumley has been described as the "pre-eminent gospel songwriterSongwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
" of the 20th century with over 600 published songs. Other titles of his include "Turn Your Radio On", "I'll Meet You in the Morning", and "The 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, 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...
. 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" 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 an analogy for earthly life. Brumley has stated, "When I wrote it, I had no idea that it would become so universally popular."
The Selah Jubilee Singers
One of the earliest recordings of "I'll Fly Away" was made by the Selah Jubilee SingersSelah Jubilee Singers
The Selah Jubilee Singers was an American gospel vocal quartet, who appeared in public as a gospel group but who also had a successful recording career as a secular group in the 1930s & 1940s.-History:...
in February 1941 for Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
. The group was founded around 1927 by Thermon Ruth, a disc jockey at radio station WOR in Brooklyn New York.
- [Released 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 ColumbiaColumbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
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
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
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.
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"
The Kossoy Sisters
In 1956, the Kossoy SistersKossoy Sisters
The Kossoy Sisters, Irene Saletan and Ellen Christenson, are an American folk and old time music act based around the identical twin sisters Irene Saletan and Ellen Christenson. In their music, Irene sings mezzo soprano vocal, and Ellen supplies soprano harmony, with Irene on guitar and Ellen...
included "I'll Fly Away" on the album, Bowling Green, which featured instrumental backing by Erik Darling. The Kossoys, actually twin sisters Irene Saletan and Ellen Christenson, are known for their close harmony
Close harmony
Close harmony is an arrangement of the notes of chords within a narrow range. It is different from open harmony or voicing in that it uses each part on the closest harmonizing note , while the open voicing uses a broader pitch array expanding the harmonic range past the octave...
singing, which is exemplified on this track. Their recording was introduced to a wider audience when it was included in the 2000 Coen Brothers
Coen Brothers
Joel David Coen and Ethan Jesse Coen known together professionally as the Coen brothers, are American filmmakers...
film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a 2000 comedy film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter, and Charles Durning. Set in 1937 rural Mississippi during the Great Depression, the film's story is a modern satire loosely...
.
Steve Goodman
Steve Goodman played blues-infused a version of the song at concerts in the late 1970s performing solo and accompanying himself on slide guitarSlide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
a version that he learned from Jim Brewer
Jim Brewer (blues musician)
Jim Brewer aka Blind Jim Brewer, although Brewer did not like this additive , was an African-American blues singer and guitarist....
. Their version included a new section of music and lyrics in the middle. The live recordings were only made available after Goodman's death in 1984. They are included on The Steve Goodman Anthology (1994) and Live at The Earl of Old Town (2006). In one of the recordings Goodman tells his audience, "This is the song that proves you don't have to know very much about Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
to like spirituals."
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 a vintage recording was used in the film itself, (see Kossoy Sisters above), a contemporary recording by Alison KraussAlison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
and Gillian Welch
Gillian Welch
Gillian Welch is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, Bluegrass, and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as "at once innovative and obliquely...
was chosen for the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)
O Brother, Where Art Thou? is the soundtrack of music from the 2000 American film of the same name, written, directed and produced by the Coen Brothers and starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Goodman....
. The spare recording, produced by T-Bone Burnett
T-Bone Burnett
Joseph Henry Burnett , widely known as T-Bone Burnett, is an American musician, songwriter, and soundtrack and record producer.He was a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band on the Rolling Thunder Revue...
, features Welch on lead vocals with Krauss singing harmony. Their voices are accompanied by Mike Compton
Mike Compton (Musician)
Mike Compton is an American bluegrass mandolin player and former protege of the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe. He is considered a modern master of bluegrass mandolin.-Biography:...
on mandolin and Chris Sharp
Chris Sharp
Chris Sharp is a singer and musician who participated in the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack of O Brother, Where Art Thou....
on guitar. The soundtrack sold over eight million copies, reached the top position on at least four of Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
s album charts, and was named Album of the Year
Grammy Award for Album of the Year
The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer...
and Best Soundtrack album at the 44th Grammy Awards in February 2002.
Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch performed the song again for a May 24, 2000 concert at the Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
that featured many of the artists from the O Brother soundtrack. Film from the concert was used to create the 2000 documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
, Down from the Mountain
Down from the Mountain
The soundtrack album, Down from the Mountain: Live Concert Performances by the Artists & Musicians of O Brother, Where Art Thou? was released to complement the documentary concert film...
. Krauss and Welch's live performance is included as the final track on the Down from the Mountain soundtrack album, which sold over 500 thousand copies, won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album
Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album
The Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album was awarded from 1987 to 2011. Until 1993 the award was known as the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Recording.An award for Best Contemporary Folk Album was also presented...
, and appeared on several of Billboard's charts.
Both the studio and live performances by Krauss and Welch were popular among folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
disk jockeys. The two recordings were ranked at No. 7 and No. 47 respectively on the Top Songs of 2001 Folk Radio airplay chart.
Jars of Clay
The Christian rock band Jars of ClayJars of Clay
Jars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars...
have recorded "I'll Fly Away" twice, first, for the 2004 various artists compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, WOW Worship: Red and again for their own 2005 album, Redemption Songs
Redemption Songs
Redemption Songs is the seventh full-length 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...
. The latter features guest vocals by Sarah Kelly
Sarah Kelly
Sarah Kelly is a contemporary Christian artist from Rockford, Illinois. She was signed to Gotee Records, a Christian label under EMI. Kelly is a two time Grammy Award nominee for albums "Take Me Away" and Where The Past Meets Today in the category of Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album...
. Redemption Songs reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart and No. 71 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Their recording of the song was popular enough on Christian radio
Christian radio
Christian radio is a category of radio formats that focus on transmitting programming with a Christian message. In the United States, where it is more established, many such broadcasters play popular music of Christian influence, though many programs have talk or news programming covering...
to be placed at No. 1 on a list of the Top Songs of 2005 by at least one station.
Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson included "I'll Fly Away" on his first ever 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 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
List of recordings
This will likely always be an incomplete list. The listings at Allmusic are in excess of 1000 entries.- 1941 - Selah Jubilee SingersSelah Jubilee SingersThe Selah Jubilee Singers was an American gospel vocal quartet, who appeared in public as a gospel group but who also had a successful recording career as a secular group in the 1930s & 1940s.-History:...
, single (DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
7831) - 1956 - Kossoy SistersKossoy SistersThe Kossoy Sisters, Irene Saletan and Ellen Christenson, are an American folk and old time music act based around the identical twin sisters Irene Saletan and Ellen Christenson. In their music, Irene sings mezzo soprano vocal, and Ellen supplies soprano harmony, with Irene on guitar and Ellen...
with Erik Darling on Bowling Green (re-released 1996, RykodiscRykodiscRykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
) - 1961 - Carolyn HesterCarolyn HesterCarolyn Hester is an American folk singer and songwriter. She was a figure in the early 1960s folk music revival.-Biography:...
on Carolyn Hester (Columbia) [The song also featured Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
playing harmonica. It was during this session when John HammondJohn H. HammondJohn Henry Hammond II was an American record producer, musician and music critic from the 1930s to the early 1980s...
met Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
who later signed him to Columbia.] - 1966 - The DillardsThe DillardsThe Dillards are an American bluegrass band from Salem, Missouri, consisting of Douglas Flint "Doug" Dillard The Dillards are an American bluegrass band from Salem, Missouri, consisting of Douglas Flint "Doug" Dillard The Dillards are an American bluegrass band from Salem, Missouri, consisting of...
on Wheatstraw SuiteWheatstraw SuiteWheatstraw Suite is the fourth album by progressive bluegrass band The Dillards, released in 1968 . It is the Dillards' fourth album, and their first to move away from their traditional bluegrass sound by using a full orchestra and occasional drums.The band had been moving toward a more...
(ElektraElektra RecordsElektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
) - 1968 - The Chambers BrothersThe Chambers BrothersThe Chambers Brothers is a soul-music group, best known for its 1968 hit record, the 11-minute long song "Time Has Come Today". The group was part of the wave of new music that integrated American blues and gospel traditions with modern psychedelic and rock elements, spawning a heady mix...
on Groovin' Time (FolkwaysFolkways RecordsFolkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987, and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways.-History:...
FW31008) [Performed as a medleyMedley (music)In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
"Rough and Rocky Road / I'll Fly Away"] - 1972 - Andy GriffithAndy GriffithAndy Samuel Griffith is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead...
on Somebody Bigger Than You and I (re-released 1996, Sony) - 1972 - PlainsongPlainsong (band)Plainsong was originally a British country rock/folk rock band, formed in early 1972 by Ian Matthews, formerly of Fairport Convention; Andy Roberts, previously of The Liverpool Scene; Dave Richards; and Bob Ronga...
on In Search of Amelia EarhartIn Search of Amelia EarhartIn Search of Amelia Earhart is the 1972 album by Plainsong, a band formed by country rock/folk rock musician Ian Matthews and Andy Roberts.Ian Matthews played in four different incarnations within three years...
(ElektraElektra RecordsElektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
) - 1985 - Vern GosdinVern GosdinVern Gosdin was an American country music singer. He idolized The Louvin Brothers and The Blue Sky Boys as a young man and sang in a gospel quartet called The Gosdin Brothers. An inheritor of the soulful honky tonk style of Lefty Frizzell and Merle Haggard, Gosdin was nicknamed "The Voice" by his...
on If Jesus Comes Tomorrow - 1995 - Crystal GayleCrystal GayleCrystal Gayle is an American country music singer best known for her 1977 country-pop hit, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". An award-winning singer, she accumulated 18 number one country hits during the 1970s and 1980s...
on SomedaySomeday (Crystal Gayle album)-Track listing:#"Anchor Deep” – 3:12#"Diamonds From Dust” – 2:53#"My Old Friend” – 3:42#"He’ll Be There” – 2:41... - 1997 - Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
on Diana, Princess of Wales: TributeDiana, Princess of Wales: TributeDiana, Princess of Wales: Tribute is a 1997 two CD release in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales with participation of a great number of renowned artists... - 1998 - Gary ChapmanGary Chapman (musician)Gary Chapman is an American Contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter and former television talk show host.-Early life and music career:...
and Wynonna JuddWynonna JuddWynonna Ellen Judd is an American country music singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the singular name Wynonna. Wynonna first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi, in the country music duo The Judds...
on Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture 'The Apostle' (Rising TideRising Tide RecordsRising Tide Records was a record label started by Doug Morris, former head of Atlantic Records, and Daniel Glass, who became President.The label had success in breaking new artists, including the multi-platinum debut of Erykah Badu, Billie Myers and Lost Boyz...
) - 2000 - Alison KraussAlison KraussAlison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
and Gillian WelchGillian WelchGillian Welch is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, Bluegrass, and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as "at once innovative and obliquely...
on O Brother, Where Art Thou?O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)O Brother, Where Art Thou? is the soundtrack of music from the 2000 American film of the same name, written, directed and produced by the Coen Brothers and starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, and John Goodman.... - 2001 - The WordThe Word (band)The Word is an instrumental jazz rock/Sacred steel/gospel blues/Southern rock jam band. The supergroup included well-known musicians: Robert Randolph , John Medeski , and all three members of North Mississippi Allstars - Luther Dickinson , Cody Dickinson , and Chris Chew .The Word developed from a...
on The Word AlbumThe Word AlbumThe debut self-titled album by an instrumental jam band supergroup The Word. The musicians: Robert Randolph , John Medeski , and the three members of North Mississippi Allstars - Luther Dickinson , Cody Dickinson , and Chris Chew .-Track listing: # "Joyful Sounds" – 3:45# "Call Him by His Name" –... - 2002 - Brenda LeeBrenda LeeBrenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
on Sweet Nothings - 2003 - Randy TravisRandy TravisRandy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
on Worship & FaithWorship & FaithWorship & Faith is the title of an album released in 2003 by American country music artist Randy Travis. It is the third gospel music album of his career, as well as his third release on Word Records. The album is composed of twenty covers of traditional gospel tunes... - 2004 - Kanye WestKanye WestKanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
on The College DropoutThe College DropoutThe College Dropout is the debut album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released February 10, 2004, on Roc-A-Fella Records. It was recorded over a period of four years, beginning in 1999. Prior to the album's release, West had worked on rapper Jay-Z's The Blueprint , which showcased his... - 2004 - Mark KleinMark Klein (singer)Mark Klein is an American blue eyed soul and blues singer-songwriter, actor and member of The Boogie Kings, an American swamp pop band.-Biography:Klein began singing at the age of 2...
on It's Just MeIt's Just Me (album)It's Just Me is the debut album of Boogie Kings member, Mark Klein. It is a collection of original songs as well as renditions of songs recorded by other musicians. His younger sister, Ashleigh, makes her debut at the age of two on the last track of the album.- Track listing:#"Jambalaya"#"Johnny B... - 2004 - Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
on My Mother's Hymn Book - 2004 - The Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Funeral for a Friend
- 2005 - Hot 8 Brass BandHot 8 Brass BandThe Hot 8 Brass Band is a New Orleans based brass band that blends hip-hop, jazz and funk styles with traditional New Orleans brass sounds. It was formed by Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones, and Harry Cook in 1995, the merging of two earlier bands, the Looney Tunes Brass Band and the High Steppers Brass...
on Rock with the Hot 8 - 2005 - Ralph StanleyRalph StanleyRalph Stanley , also known as Dr. Ralph Stanley, is an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing.-Biography:...
on Shine OnShine On (Ralph Stanley album)Shine On is a 2005 album by American bluegrass artist Ralph Stanley.- Track listing :#"King of All Kings"#"The Roses Will Bloom"#"The Old Church Yard"#"This Little Light of Mine"#"My Main Trial Is Yet To Come"#"Sing Songs About Jesus"... - 2005 - Jars of ClayJars of ClayJars of Clay is a Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay consists of Dan Haseltine on vocals, Charlie Lowell on piano and keyboards, Stephen Mason on lead guitars and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitars...
on Redemption SongsRedemption SongsRedemption Songs is the seventh full-length 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...
(EssentialEssential Records (Christian)Essential Records is a Contemporary Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It is a division of a major label, Sony Music Entertainment.-History:...
) - 2005 - Mississippi John HurtMississippi John HurtJohn Smith Hurt, better known as Mississippi John Hurt was an American country blues singer and guitarist.Raised in Avalon, Mississippi, Hurt taught himself how to play the guitar around age nine...
on D.C. Blues: Library of Congress Recordings, Vol. 2 [Recorded July 1963] - 2006 - Alan JacksonAlan JacksonAlan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
on Precious Memories - 2006 - AvalonAvalon (group)Avalon or Group Avalon was a band consisting of Djo Moupondo and his brother Mohombi Moupondo with Congolese ancestry. A multilingual band, they performed songs in Swedish, French, English and Lingala....
on Faith: A Hymns Collection - 2008 - The Blind Boys of AlabamaThe Blind Boys of AlabamaThe Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel group from Alabama that first formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind at Talladega, Alabama in 1939. The three main vocalists of the group and their drummer/percussionist are all blind....
on Down in New OrleansDown in New OrleansDown in New Orleans is a gospel album by The Blind Boys of Alabama, released in 2008. It won Best Traditional Gospel Album at the 51st Grammy Awards... - 2008 - Castanets on City of Refuge
- 2009 - All AngelsAll AngelsAll Angels are a British classical crossover group formed in 2006, consisting of Daisy Chute, Rachel Fabri, Melanie Nakhla andCharlotte Ritchie....
on Fly Away - 2009 - Daniel O'DonnellDaniel O'Donnell (Irish singer)Daniel Francis Noel O'Donnell is an Irish singer, television presenter and philanthropist. O'Donnell came to public attention in 1983 and has since become a household name in Ireland and the UK. He has also had considerable success in the US. He is known for his close relationship with his...
on Peace in the ValleyPeace in the Valley (Daniel O'Donnell album)Peace in the Valley is the 29th studio album released by Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell in 2009.-Track listing:# Peace in the Valley# Mansion over the Hilltop# Far Side Banks Of Jordan# On The Wings Of A Dove# If Jesus Comes Tomorrow, What Then... - 2011 - Preservation Hall Jazz BandPreservation Hall Jazz BandPreservation Hall Jazz Band is the name for numerous groups of Dixieland Jazz and traditional jazz bands at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana, and on tours as organized by the Preservation Hall...
and The Del McCoury Band on American Legacies
Sampling lawsuit
"I'll Fly Away" was sampled without permission for the Grammy-winningGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
song "I'll Be Missing You
I'll Be Missing You
"I'll Be Missing You" is a Grammy Award-winning song and hit single recorded by Puff Daddy, Faith Evans and 112, in memory of fellow Bad Boy Records artist Christopher "Notorious B.I.G" Wallace who was murdered on March 9, 1997...
" recorded in 1997 by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans
Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
. In 2000, the songwriter's heirs, Albert E. Brumley & Sons, Inc. settled a copyright infringement suit filed against Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS 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.
Hymnals and other church texts
- African American Heritage Hymnal (#601)
- Baptist HymnalBaptist HymnalThe 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....
, 2008 (#601) - Celebration Hymnal (#779)
- The Faith We Sing (#2282)
- The New National Baptist Hymnal (#432), 1977
- Sing the Faith: New Hymns for Presbyterians (#2282)
Other songbooks
- Wonderful Message, Hartford Music Company, 1932 [This is the original publication of the song]
- The Bluegrass Picker's Tune Book, Mel Bay Publications, 2006
Occurrences in film and television
- The hymn appears on the soundtrack of Spike LeeSpike LeeShelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
's film When the Levees BrokeWhen the Levees BrokeWhen the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts is a 2006 documentary film directed by Spike Lee about the devastation of New Orleans, Louisiana due to the failure of the levees during Hurricane Katrina. It was filmed in late August and early September 2005, and premiered at the New Orleans Arena on...
. - An episode of the television series The WaltonsThe WaltonsThe Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
included Jason singing this hymn numerous times. - This hymn was played during the final scene of the final episode of the series 7th Heaven7th Heaven7th Heaven is an American family drama television series, created and produced by Brenda Hampton. The series premiered on August 26, 1996, on the WB, the first time that the network aired Monday night programming, and was originally broadcast from August 26, 1996 to May 13, 2007...
. It was played and sung by Alison KraussAlison KraussAlison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
and Gillian WelchGillian WelchGillian Welch is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, Bluegrass, and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as "at once innovative and obliquely...
. - This hymn is played in The ApostleThe ApostleThe Apostle is a 1997 American drama film written and directed by Robert Duvall, who stars in the title role. John Beasley, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Bob Thornton, June Carter Cash, Miranda Richardson and Billy Joe Shaver also appear...
and is performed by Gary ChapmanGary Chapman (musician)Gary Chapman is an American Contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter and former television talk show host.-Early life and music career:...
and Wynonna JuddWynonna JuddWynonna Ellen Judd is an American country music singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the singular name Wynonna. Wynonna first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi, in the country music duo The Judds...
on the soundtrack. - The hymn is sung by mourners at a funeral in the film The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button (film)The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a 2008 American fantasy-drama film directed by David Fincher. The screenplay by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord is loosely based on the 1922 short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald...
. - The first season finale of the HBO program TremeTreme (TV series)Treme is an American television drama series created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer that premiered on April 11, 2010 on HBO. It takes its name from Tremé, a neighborhood of New Orleans...
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 BandTreme Brass BandThe 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 brass band music, features a shifting lineup that has included trumpeters Kermit Ruffins and James Andrews, tenor saxophonists Elliot Callier...
.