I'll Fly Away

For other uses, see I'll Fly Away (disambiguation).

"I'll Fly Away"
Hymn
Text	by Albert E. Brumley
Meter	9.4.9.4
Melody	"I'll Fly Away" by Albert E. Brumley
Composed	1929 (1929)
Published	1932 (1932)

"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 Baptists, Pentecostals, Nazarenes, the Churches of Christ and many Methodists. It appears in many hymnals where it is listed under the topics of eternal life, heaven and acceptance. It is a standard song at bluegrass jam sessions and is often performed at funerals.

History

Albert E. Brumley has been described as the "pre-eminent gospel songwriter" of the 20th century with over 600 published songs. Other titles of his 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. 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."

Recordings

The Selah Jubilee Singers

"I'll Fly Away"
Single by Selah Jubilee Singers
Released	?
Format	78 rpm
Recorded	February 21, 1941
Genre	gospel
Label	Decca 7831 (reissued Document DOCD 5499)

One of the earliest recordings of "I'll Fly Away" was made by the Selah Jubilee Singers 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.

• [Released date?] - Decca 7831 - "Hide me in thy Bosom"/"I'll Fly Away"

James and Martha Carson

"I'll Fly Away"
Single by James and Martha Carson
Released	1951
Format	Short Play
Recorded	?
Genre	gospel
Label	Capitol 1415

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

"I'll Fly Away"
Single by Chuck Wagon Gang
Released	1950(?)
Format	78 rpm
Recorded	December 16, 1948
Genre	gospel
Label	Columbia

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 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 Sisters 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?.

George Jones

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

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 Krauss 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 500,000 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.

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, 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.

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 200.

List of recordings

This will likely always be an incomplete list. The listings at Allmusic are in excess of 1000 entries.

• 1941 - Selah Jubilee Singers, single (Decca 7831)
• 1956 - Kossoy Sisters with Erik Darling on Bowling Green (re-released 1996, Rykodisc)
• 1961 - Red Foley on Songs of Devotion (Decca)
• 1961 - Reverend Gary Davis on A Little More Faith (Prestige)
• 1961 - Carolyn Hester on Carolyn Hester (Columbia) [The song also featured Bob Dylan playing harmonica. It was during this session when John Hammond met Bob Dylan who later signed him to Columbia.]
• 1965 - George Jones on Old Brush Arbors (Musicor Records)
• 1966 - The Dillards on Wheatstraw Suite (Elektra)
• 1968 - The Chambers Brothers on Groovin' Time (Folkways FW31008) [Performed as a medley "Rough and Rocky Road / I'll Fly Away"]
• 1971 - Charley Pride on Did You Think To Pray (RCA Records) (Remastered: 2012 Music City Records)
• 1972 - Andy Griffith on Somebody Bigger Than You and I (re-released 1996, Sony)
• 1972 - Plainsong on In Search of Amelia Earhart (Elektra)
• 1973 - The Wailers in Rastaman Chant on Burnin' (Island)
• 1985 - Vern Gosdin on If Jesus Comes Tomorrow
• 1991 - Sounds of Blackness on The Evolution of Gospel
• 1995 - Crystal Gayle on Someday
• 1997 - Aretha Franklin on Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute
• 1998 - Gary Chapman and Wynonna Judd on Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture 'The Apostle' (Rising Tide)
• 1999 - The Osmonds on Gospel Favorites
• 2000 - Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch on O Brother, Where Art Thou?
• 2001 - Dessie O'Halloran on The Pound Road Album
• 2001 - The Word on The Word Album
• 2002 - The Avett Brothers on Live at the Double Door Inn
• 2002 - Brenda Lee on Sweet Nothings
• 2003 - Randy Travis on Worship & Faith
• 2004 - Kanye West on The College Dropout
• 2004 - Mark Klein on It's Just Me
• 2004 - Johnny Cash on My Mother's Hymn Book
• 2004 - The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (with Davell Crawford Singers, featuring Melody Palmer) on Funeral for a Friend
• 2005 - Hot 8 Brass Band on Rock with the Hot 8
• 2005 - Ralph Stanley on Shine On
• 2005 - Jars of Clay on Redemption Songs (Essential)
• 2005 - Mississippi John Hurt on D.C. Blues: Library of Congress Recordings, Vol. 2 [Recorded July 1963]
• 2006 - Alan Jackson on Precious Memories
• 2006 - Avalon on Faith: A Hymns Collection
• 2008 - The Blind Boys of Alabama on Down in New Orleans
• 2008 - Castanets on City of Refuge
• 2008 - I Am Terrified on I Am Terrified EP
• 2009 - All Angels on Fly Away
• 2009 - Daniel O'Donnell on Peace in the Valley
• 2011 - Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Del McCoury Band on American Legacies
• 2012 - The Ragbirds on Travelin' Machine
• 2012 - Flatfoot 56 on Toil
• 2014 - Xiu Xiu on Unclouded sky

Sampling lawsuit

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

In print

Hymnals and other church texts

• African American Heritage Hymnal (#601)
• Baptist Hymnal, 2008 (#601)
• Celebration Hymnal (#779)
• 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 [This 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 and Linda Purl in the 1977 episode, "The Heartbreaker."
• The television series "I'll Fly Away" 1991-92 (NBC) 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.
• The Kossoy Sisters version was used in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and the Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch version is used on the film's soundtrack CD.
• The hymn appears on the soundtrack of Spike Lee's 2006 documentary film When the Levees Broke.
• This Krauss & Welch version was used during the final scene of the final episode ("And Away We Go," 2007) of the 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 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.