Glory, Glory (Lay My Burden Down) Explained

"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, country, blues, rock, and gospel. It is typically very melodically similar to another popular gospel song, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken".

Lyrics

Lyrically, the song has many variations, but the best-known version of the song (as performed by Odetta or Roy Acuff) opens with:

Selected recordings

Glory, Glory
Cover:	TheByrdsGloryGlory.jpg
Caption:	1971 German picture sleeve
Type:	single
Artist:	The Byrds
Album:	Byrdmaniax
Recorded:	January 17, 1971
Studio:	Columbia, Hollywood, California
Genre:	Rock
Label:	Columbia
Producer:	Terry Melcher, Chris Hinshaw
Prev Title:	I Trust (Everything Is Gonna Work Out Alright)
Prev Year:	1971
Next Title:	America's Great National Pastime
Next Year:	1971

• The Elders McIntorsh and Edwards' Sanctified Singers – "Since I Laid My Burden Down" (recorded Chicago, December 4, 1928)
• Blind Roosevelt Graves – "When I Lay My Burdens Down" (Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, recorded in 1936)
• Maddox Brothers and Rose – "When I Lay My Burden Down" (recorded between 1946 and 1951 and included on the compilation The Maddox Brothers and Rose – Vol. 1)
• The Soul Stirrers – "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" (1948)
• Odetta – "Glory, Glory" (Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues, 1956)
• The Big 3 – "Glory, Glory" (Live at the Recording Studio, 1964)
• Mississippi John Hurt – "Since I've Laid This Burden Down" (The Best of Mississippi John Hurt, 1966)
• Furry Lewis – "Lay My Burden Down" (Blues Magician, recorded 1969)
• Mississippi Fred McDowell – "When I Lay My Burden Down" (1964)^[1]
• Roy Acuff – "When I Lay My Burden Down" (Night Train to Memphis, 1970)^[2]
• The Byrds – "Glory, Glory" (Byrdmaniax, 1971)
• Ike & Tina Turner – "Glory, Glory" (The Gospel According to Ike & Tina, 1974)^[3]
• Otha Turner – "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" (From Senegal to Senatobia, 1999)
• Dr. John with Mavis Staples and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band – "Lay My Burden Down" (N'Awlinz Dis, Dat, or D'Udda, 2005)
• Larry Sparks – "Lay My Burden Down" (Transamerica, 2005)^[4]
• Glenn Kaiser – "Since I Laid My Burdens Down" (Grrrecords, 2006)
• City and Colour & The Coppertone – "When I Lay My Burden Down" ("Wood & Wires Productions", c. 2010)^[5]
• Will McFarlane – "Lay My Burden Down" (Will McFarlane, c. 2015)^[6]

External links

• • "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" performed live by Robert Sims and Odetta The Big Three Featuring Mama Cass Elliot
• [{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t3374406|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic: review of The Byrds' version of "Glory, Glory"]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Illustrated Mississippi Fred McDowell discography. Wirz.de. October 23, 2023.
2. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r244890|pure_url=yes}} Night Train To Memphis review]. AllMusic. November 5, 2009.
3. Web site: The Sweet Rhode Island Red/The Gospel According To Ike & Tina - Ike & Tina Turner. AllMusic. en-us.
4. Web site: Larry Sparks – "Lay My Burden Down" lyrics. Poplyrics.net. 2008-04-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20100514113354/http://www.poplyrics.net/waiguo/soundtrack/transamerica/004.htm. 2010-05-14. dead.
5. Web site: The Coppertone & City and Colour! | Wood & Wires Productions . 2014-01-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130524200830/http://woodandwiresproductions.com/2010/09/08/the-coppertone-city-and-colour/ . 2013-05-24 . dead .
6. Web site: Will McFarlane - Will McFarlane - Music . 2016-02-11 . 2016-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304004837/http://willmcfarlane.com/music.html . dead .