Few songs carry the weight of faith, hope, and longing for something greater quite like “I’ll Fly Away.” Whether you’ve heard it in church, at a funeral, or strummed on a back porch with friends, this hymn has a way of sinking into your soul and lifting your spirit all at once.
Written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley, this gospel classic isn’t just a song—it’s a promise. Brumley was reportedly inspired while picking cotton, humming an old prison work song called “The Prisoner’s Song.” But rather than a lament of confinement, his lyrics transformed into something more profound—a vision of freedom, of flying away from the burdens of life and into eternal rest.
What makes “I’ll Fly Away” so powerful is its simplicity. The melody is warm and familiar, wrapping around you like a comforting embrace. And the lyrics? They cut right to the heart:
“Some glad morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away…”
There’s no uncertainty, no doubt—just a deep-seated belief that something beautiful awaits beyond this life.
Over the decades, the song has been covered by countless artists—from bluegrass greats like Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch to country legends like Johnny Cash. It even found its way into pop culture through movies and TV shows, proving that its message is as timeless as ever.
At its core, “I’ll Fly Away” is a song of release—letting go of pain, embracing peace, and soaring into the unknown with faith. It’s the kind of tune that unites people, whether they’re singing it in harmony at a Sunday service or reflecting quietly during a moment of solitude. And maybe that’s why it still resonates so deeply today—because we all long for a place where the troubles of this world no longer weigh us down
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Lyrics
Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away
To that home on God’s celestial shore I’ll fly away,
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away
When I die hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away
When the shadows of this life have gone, I’ll fly away
Like a bird from prison bars have flown, I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away
(Take it away)
Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I’ll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll, I’ll fly away
To a land where joy will never end, I’ll fly away
(One more time)
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away