Origins: I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)

Subject: Copy of the lost threads 1
From: Teru
Date: 22 Apr 97 - 04:39 AM

Dick,

Here are some threads I coopied.

Hope they can help you.

Teru ----------------------------------------------------- Brumley Songbooks

Messages posted to thread:

From Date

Joe Offer 04/12/97 Les Blank 04/13/97 Joe Offer 04/14/97

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Brumley Songbooks From: Joe Offer Date: 04/12/97

A few weeks back, somebody posted a message about songbooks available from Albert E. Brumley & Sons. The books sounded pretty good, so I blew forty bucks and bought every book available from the company. They'll take credit card orders at [phone]. Their address is different from what was previously posted. It's Albert E. Brumley & Sons, Inc., 100 E. Albert E. Brumley Parkway, Powell, Missouri 65730. Postage is four bucks, whatever the size of your order.

The little songbooks, about 50 songs each, are $3.00, or $20 for the set of 8. There are three "Songs of the Pioneers" booklets in the set, one called "Lamplitin' Songs & Ballads," another called "America's Memory Valley." These books are a wonderful collection of corny old songs that are just plain fun to sing, from "I Ride an Old Paint" to "You've Been a Good Wagon But You done Broke Down." The other three are mostly gospel (Brumley wrote "I'll Fly Away" and "Turn Your Radio On").

The other books are "Great Inspirational Songs" and "Christian Hymnsongs" ($4.50 each); and "Radio Favorites" and "The Best of Albert E. Brumley" ($3.00, such a deal). You'll find the most popular hymns in the little booklets, so it might not be worth your while to get these others. I suppose it's sacrilegious to say so, but I find these songs go especially well with a six-pack.

Thanks to whoever suggested these books. They're great!

-Joe Offer-

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: Brumley Songbooks From: Les Blank Date: 04/13/97

Hey Joe, nothing sacrilegious about a six pack. I've got several friends for whom it is a religion !!! Besides what goes better with bluegrass or good old timey gospel?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: Brumley Songbooks From: Joe Offer Date: 04/14/97

Well, we sang "I'll Fly Away" and "Turn Your Radio On" in church this morning in honor of old Al Brumley. It's not too often you'll hear songs like that in a Catholic church. It was fun to do them for a change. Gospel is a lot more fun than the typical music you'll hear in mainstream churches. The theology of that Gospel stuff is another matter. I try to ignore it. There's no Gospel song more fun than "There Is Power in the Blood." That one is in the Brumley songbooks, too. -Joe-

Subject: RE: Copy of the lost threads 1
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Jun 02 - 12:15 AM

Apparently there is a lost thread on Brumley Songbooks. A couple of the old messages seem to have been transferred here.
In a thread (that I've lost), the date 1942 was ascribed to Brumley's "I'll Fly Away." In a songbook I have is the note "Copyright 1932 in Wonderful Message Hartford Music Co., Owner." Brumley is credited with both music and lyrics. The DT does not credit Brumley in its copy of the lyrics.
Perhaps the DT has an error in the 2nd verse. In the sheet music in the book I have, the first line is "When the shadows of this life have grown," but the DT has "have gone." "Grown" rhymes with "flown" in the next line, but gone makes more sense. The copy I have could be wrong, since the 2nd line of the first verse reads "To a home on God's celestial snore."

The little book is "Songs That Tell A Story," Book No. 2, Arlen and Jackie Vaden, The Southern Gospel Singers, no date but 1940s, Trumann, Arkansas. They advertise "A complete stock of gospel songs on record, order from The Record Shop, Trumann, Ark., records $0.89 each, when ordering tell title of song and the artist." Them wuz the days! The

Subject: RE: Copy of the lost threads 1
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jun 02 - 01:49 AM

Dicho, I have heard that there is a Louvin Bros. songbook, "Songs That Tell a Story." That isn't what you have, though?

And-- the Old Man is Snoring???? LOL!

~S~

Subject: RE: Copy of the lost threads 1
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Jun 02 - 04:40 AM

"Lets celebrate 'cos I'm feeling great; I'm the guy who found the lost threads" (attributed to Schnozzle)

Subject: RE: Copy of the lost threads 1
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Jun 02 - 06:36 AM

No, not Louvin Bros. The Southern Gospel Singers. "Hear Jackie and Arlen Vaden over WRVA, Richmond, VA, and XERF, Del Rio, Texas." This was in the 1940s, however. Don't know if they cut any 78s or not.

Subject: ADD Version: I'll Fly Away - Albert E. Brumley
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Dec 03 - 11:31 PM

The DT version of "I'll Fly Away" is somewhat different from what's published in the Brumley songbooks. Here's the original version:

I'LL FLY AWAY
Original version
(Albert E. Brumley 1932)

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

CHORUS:
I'll fly away (O glory)
I'll fly away (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah by and by,
I'll fly away.

When the shadows of this life have grown
Like a bird from prison bars has flown

Just a few more weary days and then
To a land where joys shall never end

---

...and the DT Version:

I'LL FLY AWAY
(Albert E. Brumley)

One bright morning, when this life is o'er
I'll fly away,
To that home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away.

cho: I'll fly away (O glory)
I'll fly away (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah bye and bye,
I'll fly away, fly away.

When the shadows of this life have gone
Like a bird from prison bars has flown

Just a few more weary days and then
To a land where joys shall never end

@gospel @religion
filename[ IFLYAWAY
TUNE FILE: IFLYAWAY
CLICK TO PLAY
RG

Subject: RE: I'll Fly Away - Albert E. Brumley
From: Merritt
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 04:29 PM

We closed my Dad's funeral service in August with this song. The words and music are simple and direct, and its got that call & response dynamic built into the verses. Those present seemed to dive right into it. I'm grateful to Mr. Brumley for the gift of this song.

- Merritt

Subject: Lyr Add: Post la vivo, en matena helo
From: Haruo
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 11:37 PM

In memory of my mentor in Esperanto hymnody, Rev. Adolf Burkhardt, who passed away on Friday, I've posted my Esperanto version of "I'll Fly Away" in my online hymnal, Post la vivo, en matena helo:

Post la vivo, en matena helo
Esperanto version of "I'll Fly Away!" (Albert E. Brumley)
Orig. 1932; translation 2003, rev. 2004.

1. Post la vivo en matena helo, mi flugos for!
   Al ĉe-borda hejmo en Ĉielo mi flugos for!

Mi flugos for, ho glore mi flugos for.
Post la mort', haleluja, laŭ la Vort', mi flugos for!

2. Kiam fadis ombroj de la tero, mi flugos for!
   Kiel birdo fuĝas el karcero, mi flugos for!
3. Post nur kelkaj lacaj tagoj plu, mi flugos for!
   Al eterna, gaje ĝoja ĝu', mi flugos for!

Haruo

Subject: RE: I'll Fly Away - Albert E. Brumley
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 04:08 PM

This is what Albert E. Brumley said about his composition:
"I was picking cotton on my father's farm and was humming the old ballad ["The Prisoners Song"] 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.
About three years later, I finally developed the plot, titled it "I'll Fly Away," and it was published in 1932 [in "Wonderful Message," Hartford Music Co,]
"Those familiar with the song will note that I paraphrased one line of the old ballad to read "Like a bird from prison bars have [has] flown." When I wrote it, I had no idea that it would become so universally popular."
From letter to Dorothy Horstman from Brumley, Jan. 10, 1973; reprinted Dorothy Horstman, "Sing Your Heart Out, Country Boy," 1976, p. 51."

From Bob Dylan Roots

"The Prisoner's Song," as generally known, was written by Robert Massey and copyright by Guy Massey, 1924, Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. Inc. (also from Bob Dylan Roots)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away - Albert E. Brumley
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 03:26 PM

I was researching the lyrics to a song on the forum , and I
accidentally stumbled across the discussion about the song
I'll Fly Away. It is a favorite of mine, but I have often wondered
who sang the song at the beginning and I think at the end of the
Television show by the same name? Does anyone remember it? I believe
that the music for that show was credited to Snuffy Walden, but I have never been able to find out who sang it or if it was available
to purchase. Any help? Thanks.
                                    John Snawder
                                    Louisville,Ky.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away - Albert E. Brumley
From: Azizi
Date: 31 Jul 05 - 07:40 PM

Hmmm. I know that I wrote a post on some thread about this song.
????

****

It's interesting that Merritt's post upthread talked about this song being sung at the close of his dad's funeral.

"I'll Fly Away" is very often sung by the congregation at the end of African American funerals. Sometimes the song is led by a soloist or unlead.

Usually everyone is in tears at the end of this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away - Albert E. Brumley
From: Kaleea
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 12:46 AM

I never watched the show as I was working evenings & saw no prime time TV in those days. Mr. Brumley was from just outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Growing up in Tulsa with Oral Roberts Univ, & a couple of Bible colleges, & a couple of churches on most every corner, on occasion Mr. Brumley would attend & sing some of his songs, including "I'll Fly Away." He did tent revivals all over the country when he was younger. Radio, too. They're still singing his songs all around Tulsa.
The blue click thingie still won't work for me, but you can find all kinds of info (maybe even email somebody) about I'll Fly Away the TV show (scroll down & you'll see Snuffy listed under Music"
here:


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101124/combined

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away - Albert E. Brumley
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Aug 05 - 02:19 PM

I'll Fly Away

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)
From: GUEST,mistypines in saskatchewan
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 04:21 PM

i have an arlen and jackie vaden the southern gospel singers presents songs that tell a story book no.2 the price on it is 1.25 southern gospel singers trumann, arkansas on the cover its small and faded white some slight tears on top of the cover left hand side a picture of a man and woman whom i think must be jackie and arlen vaden back page is the index with a list of songs... and on bottom of page says made by albert e. brumley and sons powell missouri...i dont read music so it is not much help to me but realize it may be collectable the pages are intacked and a few small cuts on pages edge is all i guess from use if anyone is interested in this please let me know or if its still in print then its care and being passed on is of no importance please let me know ... thanks mistypines in saskatchewan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Aug 13 - 09:18 PM

I just got a call from a friend who is listening to Fiona Ritchie's Thistle & Shamrock program. I think it must be Week 31, the program for August 1. Here's the blurb announcing the program:

Brían Ó hAirt and Julee Glaub: Join Fiona Ritchie at The Swannanoa Gathering in the mountains of North Carolina for a conversational, musical encounter with Brían Ó hAirt and Julee Glaub. Each followed a separate path to Ireland to discover the roots of their musical passions. Hear how American and Celtic traditions mingle in their work today with Brían's band Bua and Julee's duo Little Windows.

So, anyhow, my friend says they sang "I'll Fly Away" at the beginning of the program, and my friend got the impression that the performers said the song had Celtic roots. I thought it was an original 1932 composition by Albert E. Brumley. Here's a link to the program (click). Towards the beginning, there's a terrific clip of Julee Glaub singing "I'll Fly Away," which was the favorite song of her North Carolina Grandmother - no Celtic connection, although it's interesting to hear southern US singers doing authentic Celtic music in other parts of the performance. At about 51 minutes, there's a terrific story about Katharine Hepburn.

This has been a very important song in the history of my family. I used to sing it with my friend Jim Cox, a tall Englishman with a big smile who lived here in the California Sierra foothills. We sang it together the last time three weeks before he died in April 2001, and then he played it beautifully on my harmonica. I sang it to him once more, three days before he died; and then I sang it at his funeral. And then a year later, I married Jim's widow on January 12, 2002.

We sang the song often at song circles at song circles at our home, and my mother-in-law, who lived with us, loved it. A week before she died in June, 2013, she was restless at night, so I sang her "I'll Fly Away," and she settled down to sleep. When we discovered she had died in the middle of the night on June 13, we sang this song to her and then toasted her with fruit juice. And we sang it for her one last time at her graveside.

It certainly is a wonderful song.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)
From: ranger1
Date: 03 Aug 13 - 11:01 PM

I'd just posted it on Kat's song circle thread either last night or this morning and burst into tears when I heard it on Thistle and Shamrock this evening. She just sang the first verse or so, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)
From: Haruo
Date: 05 Aug 13 - 02:26 AM

I don't see anything here about the other stanza, which has come to be one of my favorites; I have only heard it in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou (starting at 1:55 in this YouTube):

O how glad and happy when we meet...
No more cold iron shackles on my feet...

Have not yet figured out who wrote them or what their copyright status is. I was not yet aware of this stanza when I did my Esperanto version; will have to remember to add it in...

Haruo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Aug 13 - 05:03 AM

I've seen this verse, Haruo, but not in any Brumley publications. I think this came out before Brumley started publishing his own stuff. If I recall correctly, his publisher had been Stamps-Baxter. Maybe somebody can find the song in an old Stamps-Baxter hymnal, and tell us what verses are there. As far as I know, the original song has only the three verses.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)
From: Haruo
Date: 05 Aug 13 - 11:35 AM

FWIW a bluegrass person from Georgia who attended this summer's NASK (North America's premier Esperanto course) requested a copy of the Esperanto version and (I don't have his contact info so I can't check) may be performing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Aug 13 - 03:49 PM

I was wrong about the original publisher. hymnary.org and the Celebration Hymnal (#779) say that the song was published in 1932 by Hartford Music Company, in a book called Wonderful Message.

According to hymnary.org, Albert E. Brumley enrolled in the Hartford Musical Institute of Hartford, Arkansas, in 1926, and studied there through 1931. The Institute was led by Eugene Monroe Bartlett (1884–1941), owner of the Hartford Music Company. Brumley purchased Hartford Music Company in 1948.

I find just the three verses in the hymnals I have.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'll Fly Away (Albert E. Brumley)
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 05 Aug 13 - 05:25 PM

Kat was very much in my thoughts too, Ranger1, taking my Appalachian dulcimer out for the first time to lead on this one in an ad-hoc Meetup jam in London on 30th. Thanks for posting it.