| True Grit: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | |
| Type: | Soundtrack |
| Artist: | Carter Burwell |
| Cover: | TrueGrit2010Soundtrack.jpg |
| Released: | December 21, 2010 |
| Recorded: | 2010 |
| Genre: | Western |
| Length: | 35:25 |
| Label: | Nonesuch |
| Producer: | Carter Burwell |
True Grit: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a soundtrack to the 2010 film of the same name. True Grit is the 15th Coen brothers film scored by long-time collaborator Carter Burwell. The Coens discussed the idea of using 19th-century church music, "something that was severe (sounding). It couldn't be soothing or uplifting, and at the same time it couldn't be outwardly depressing. I spent the summer going through hymn books," Burwell said.
Johnny Cash's rendition of "God's Gonna Cut You Down" was used in the theatrical trailer. The 1888 hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" is used as Mattie Ross's theme, and about a quarter of the score is based on it. Iris DeMent's version, from her 2004 album Lifeline, is used during the end credits. Other hymns are also referenced in the score, including "What a Friend We Have in Jesus",[1] "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand",[2] [3] and "The Glory-Land Way".[4] Because the hymns are considered pre-composed music, the score was deemed ineligible to be nominated for Best Original Score in the 2010 Academy Awards.[5]