FYI: I have read in a number of books that early on, enslaved African Americans had a belief that when they died their spirit would take wings and fly back to their African homeland [as they became more Christianized, the belief may have changed to this return to African was made before the spirit went up to heaven].

Consequently there are a number of lyrics in spirituals about "flying away"..

I'm wondering if the featured song in this thread [which is new to me] is in any way related to "I'll Fly Away".

I suppose "I'll Fly Away" is a Gospel song and not a spiritual [but frankly, at some point the line between spiritual and gospel is quite blurry..so IMO it's a toss up which category a song is placed in...

At any rate, in my experience "I'll Fly Away", is THE song that is sung the most often at African American funerals..The song has a moderate tempo and its words are a celebration of the 'homegoing' of the loved one...However, everytime this song is sung-usually after the pastor's remarks and right before the end of the funeral service, most of the people in attendance are crying.

This song is not in the Mudcat African American Spiritual PermaThread. [as I said earlier I'm not sure if it's a spiritual or not..]

Here are the words:

Some glad morning when this life is over,
I'll fly away.
To a home on God's celestial shore,
I'll fly away.

I'll fly away, O Glory,
I'll fly away.
When I die, Hallelujah, bye and bye,
I'll fly away.

When the shadows of this life have flown,
I'll fly away.
Like a bird thrown, driven by the storm,
I'll fly away.

I'll fly away, O Glory,
I'll fly away.
When I die, Hallelujah, bye and bye,
I'll fly away.

Just a few more weary days and then,
I'll fly away.
To a land where joy shall never end,
I'll fly away.

I'll fly away, O Glory,
I'll fly away.
When I die, Hallelujah, bye and bye,
I'll fly away.
****

Incidently, Kanye West, a noted hip-hop artist had a recent serious brush with death. As a result of that experience, he has recorded an album entitled "College Dropout" that includes "I'll Fly Away" and other songs that explore the meaning of life. And I applaud him for doing so.

I've not heard the this recording..But from the web site that I visited, it appears that "I'll Fly Away" is credited to West and not listed as traditional. The words appear to be the same. Maybe the tune is slightly different. Who knows??!

Here is the link if your interested in other songs on that album.
Kanye West Album