Glory, Glory (Lay My Burden Down)

This article is about the spiritual song. For the patriotic anthem with the chorus "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah", see The Battle Hymn of the Republic. For other uses, see Glory, Glory (disambiguation).

"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:

Glory glory, hallelujah
Since I laid my burden down
Glory glory, hallelujah
Since I laid my burden down

Selected recordings

"Glory, Glory"
1971 German picture sleeve
Single by The Byrds
from the album Byrdmaniax
B-side	"Citizen Kane" (US/UK) "I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician" (Europe)
Released	August 20, 1971 (1971-08-20)
Recorded	January 17, 1971
Studio	Columbia, Hollywood, California
Genre	Rock
Length	4:03
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Arthur Reynolds
Producer(s)	Terry Melcher, Chris Hinshaw
The Byrds singles chronology
"I Trust (Everything Is Gonna Work Out Alright)" (1971) "Glory, Glory" (1971) "America's Great National Pastime" (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]
• Johnny Thunders – "Glory, Glory" (Sticks and Stones: The Lost Album, 2009 (recorded 1990))
• Will McFarlane – "Lay My Burden Down" (Will McFarlane, c. 2015)[6]

References

1. "Illustrated Mississippi Fred McDowell discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
2. "Night Train To Memphis review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 5, 2009.
3. "The Sweet Rhode Island Red/The Gospel According To Ike & Tina - Ike & Tina Turner". AllMusic.
4. "Larry Sparks – "Lay My Burden Down" lyrics". Poplyrics.net. Archived from the original on 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
5. "The Coppertone & City and Colour! | Wood & Wires Productions". Archived from the original on 2013-05-24. Retrieved 2014-01-17.
6. "Will McFarlane - Will McFarlane - Music". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-11.

External links

• "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" performed live by Robert Sims and Odetta
• The Big Three Featuring Mama Cass Elliot
• AllMusic: review of The Byrds' version of "Glory, Glory"