“Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down”

Description

Singer has heard of a city with streets of gold. He has found a throne of grace. Jesus, on the cross, tells his disciples to take his mother home. Cho: "When the high trumpet sounds/I'll be getting up, walking around/Ain't no grave can hold my body down"

Long description

Singer has heard of a beautiful city -- heaven -- with streets paved with gold. He has found a throne of grace, "it will 'point my soul a place." Jesus, hanging on the cross, hears Mary moan. He tells his disciples to take his mother home; singer laments the crucifixion of Jesus. Ch.: "When the high trumpet sounds/I'll be getting up, walking around/Ain't no grave can hold my body down"

Notes

This is very close to being a nonballad, but there's just enough narrative in the second verse for it to squeak in. It's also one of the masterpieces of the human spirit. - PJS

The reference to the (beloved) disciple caring for Mary mother of Jesus is to John 19:26-27, "When Jesus saw his mother... he said to the [beloved] disciple, 'See! Your mother.' And from then on the disciple took her to his own home." - RBW

Recordings

  • Caudill Family, "Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down" (Champion 902, n.d.)
  • Brother Claude Ely, "There Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold This Body Down" (King 1311, 1954) [he may have also recorded it in 1947]
  • Bozie Sturdivant, "Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down" (AFS 6639 B1, 1942; on LC10, LCTreas)

References

  1. Roud #12182
  2. BI, RcANGCHM

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1942 (recording, Bozie Sturdivant)
Found in: US(SE)