"Glory, Glory" (also known as "When I Lay My Burden Down", "Since I Laid My Burden Down", "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah" and other titles) is an American spiritual song, which has been recorded by many artists in a variety of genres, including

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

, and

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

. It is typically very melodically similar to another popular gospel song, "

Will the Circle Be Unbroken "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" is a popular Christian hymn written in 1907 by Ada R. Habershon with music by Charles H. Gabriel. The song is often recorded unattributed and, because of its age, has lapsed into the public domain. Most of the c ...

Lyrics

Lyrically, the song has many variations, but the best-known version of the song (as performed by

Odetta Odetta Holmes (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008), known as Odetta, was an American singer, often referred to as "The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement". Her musical repertoire consisted largely of American folk music, blues, jazz, and s ...

Roy Acuff Roy Claxton Acuff (September 15, 1903 – November 23, 1992) was an American country music singer, fiddler, and promoter. Known as the "King of Country Music", Acuff is often credited with moving the genre from its early string band and "hoedown ...

) opens with:

Selected recordings

* The Elders McIntorsh and Edwards' Sanctified Singers – "Since I Laid My Burden Down" (recorded Chicago, December 4, 1928) *

Blind Roosevelt Graves Le Moise Roosevelt Graves (December 9, 1909 – December 30, 1962), credited as Blind Roosevelt Graves, was an American blues guitarist and singer, who recorded both sacred and secular music in the 1920s and 1930s. Biography Roosevelt Graves w ...

– "When I Lay My Burdens Down" (''Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order'', recorded in 1936) *

Maddox Brothers and Rose The Maddox Brothers and Rose were an American country music group active from the 1930s to 1950s, consisting of four brothers, Fred, Cal, Cliff, and Don Maddox, along with their sister Rose; Cliff died in 1949 and was replaced by brother Henry. Or ...

– "When I Lay My Burden Down" (recorded between 1946 and 1951 and included on the compilation ''

The Maddox Brothers and Rose – Vol. 1 ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The' ...

'') * The Soul Stirrers – "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" (1948) *

– "Glory, Glory" (''

Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues ''Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues'' is the debut solo album by American folk singer Odetta. It was released in November 1956 through Tradition Records. Like much of Odetta's early work, ''Ballads and Blues'' combines traditional songs (e.g. spir ...

'', 1956) * The Big 3 – "Glory, Glory" (''Live at the Recording Studio'', 1964) *

Mississippi John Hurt John Smith Hurt (March 8, 1893 – November 2, 1966), known as Mississippi John Hurt, was an American country blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Biography Early years John Hurt was born in Teoc,Cohen, Lawrence (1996). Liner notes to ''Av ...

– "Since I've Laid This Burden Down" (''The Best of Mississippi John Hurt'', 1966) *

Furry Lewis Walter E. "Furry" Lewis (March 6, 1893 or 1899 – September 14, 1981) was an American country blues guitarist and songwriter from Memphis, Tennessee. He was one of the earliest of the blues musicians active in the 1920s to be brought out of ...

– "Lay My Burden Down" (''Blues Magician'', recorded 1969) *

Mississippi Fred McDowell Fred McDowell (January 12, 1904 – July 3, 1972), known by his stage name Mississippi Fred McDowell, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist of hill country blues music. Career McDowell was born in Rossville, Tennessee. His parents we ...

– "When I Lay My Burden Down" (1964) *

– "When I Lay My Burden Down" (''

Night Train to Memphis ''Night Train to Memphis'' is a 1946 American action film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Dorrell McGowan and Stuart E. McGowan. The film stars Roy Acuff, Allan Lane, Adele Mara, Irving Bacon, Joseph Crehan and Emma Dunn. The film was ...

'', 1970) *

The Byrds The Byrds () were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) being the so ...

– "Glory, Glory" ('' Byrdmaniax'', 1971) *

Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina Turner was an American musical duo consisting of husband-and-wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by the Kings of Rhythm and backing vocalists, the Ikettes. ...

– "Glory, Glory" (''

The Gospel According to Ike & Tina ''The Gospel According to Ike & Tina'' is a studio album by Ike & Tina Turner released on United Artists Records in 1974. Content and release The album features the Turners both singing lead on new arrangements of gospel standards. Ike's rend ...

'', 1974) *

Otha Turner Othar "Otha" Turner (June 2, 1907 – February 27, 2003) was one of the last well-known fife players in the vanishing American fife and drum blues tradition. His music was also part of the African-American genre known as Hill country blues. Ea ...

– "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" (''From Senegal to Senatobia'', 1999) *

Dr. John Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. His music combined New Orleans blues, jazz, R&B, soul and funk. Active as a session mus ...

with

Mavis Staples Mavis Staples (born July 10, 1939) is an American rhythm and blues and gospel music, gospel singer and civil rights activism, activist. She rose to fame as a member of her family's band The Staple Singers, of which she is the last surviving memb ...

and

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is an American brass band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The ensemble was established in 1977, by Benny Jones and members of the Tornado Brass Band. The Dirty Dozen incorporated funk and bebop into the traditional ...

– "Lay My Burden Down" (''N'Awlinz Dis, Dat, or D'Udda'', 2005) *

Larry Sparks Larry Eugene Sparks, (born September 25, 1947) is an American Bluegrass singer and guitarist. He was the winner of the 2004 and 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year Award. 2005, won IBMA for Album of the Yea ...

– "Lay My Burden Down" ('' Transamerica'', 2005) *

Glenn Kaiser Glenn Kaiser (born January 21, 1953) is an American, Chicago-based Christian rock, Christian music, Christian blues musician, singer, songwriter and pastor. He was the leader of Resurrection Band and is currently the leader of The Glenn Kaiser B ...

– "Since I Laid My Burdens Down" (Grrrecords, 2006) *

City and Colour Dallas Michael John Albert Green (born September 29, 1980) is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who records under the name City and Colour. He is also known for his contributions as a singer, rhythm guitarist, songwrite ...

& The Coppertone – "When I Lay My Burden Down" ("Wood & Wires Productions", c. 2010) *

Johnny Thunders John Anthony Genzale (July 15, 1952 – April 23, 1991), known professionally as Johnny Thunders, was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of New York Dolls. He later formed the He ...

– "Glory, Glory" (''Sticks and Stones: The Lost Album'', 2009 (recorded 1990)) * Will McFarlane – "Lay My Burden Down" (Will McFarlane, c. 2015)

References

External links

"Glory, Glory Hallelujah" performed live
by Robert Sims and

The Big Three Featuring Mama Cass Elliot
* AllMusic: review of The Byrds' version of "Glory, Glory" {{authority control American folk songs Odetta songs The Byrds songs Ike & Tina Turner songs Year of song unknown Songs with unknown songwriters