Dry Bones by The Delta Rhythm Boys

Album: Dry Bones (1905)

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

This traditional spiritual song has been used to teach basic anatomy to children, although its description of how the bones come together is not anatomically correct - the shoulder bone isn't really connected to the neck bone. The lyrics are based on Ezekiel 37:1-14, where the prophet visits the Valley of Dry Bones and causes them to become alive by God's command. The melody was written in the early 1900s by African-American author and songwriter James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938).
Possibly the best known version of this spiritual was recorded by American vocal group The Delta Rhythm Boys, who were popular for over 50 years in the 20th century. Other artists who have recorded the song include Fats Waller. The Four Lads, Mills Brothers Shirley Caesar, Rosemary Clooney and as "Dem Bones", The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.
During The Simpsons fourth season episode, Homer's Triple Bypass, Dr. Nick Riviera is operating on Homer. Unsure of the procedure, he sings this song in the middle of the operation to help him work out what to do. The bungling surgeon gets the lyrics wrong and ends up singing "the red thing's connected to my wristwatch."
Robert Randolph & the Family Band recorded an updated version of Dry Bones on their 2010 album We Walk This Road.
The Delta Rhythm Boys version of this song appears in the 1988 movie Rain Man, which won the Oscar for Best Picture.

Comments: 2

Edward Pearce from Ashford, Kent, EnglandEisso, The version of Dry Bones in The Singing Detective was by Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians.
Eisso from Groningen, NetherlandsWhat was the version used in 'The singing detective'? It was less smooth than this one and I loved it.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Grazing In The GrassThe Friends Of Distinction

Grazing In The Grass by The Friends Of Distinction was the first big hit to use the phrase "dig it" in the lyric.

Rock And Roll All NiteKiss

Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss wrote "Rock And Roll All Nite" as a "rallying cry for all of our fans." In later years, members of Kiss wrote songs separately.

Forever In Blue JeansNeil Diamond

Despite his hit "Forever In Blue Jeans," Neil Diamond was rarely seen in denim. He said the jeans are a symbol for how "the simple things are really the important things."

Stay With MeSam Smith

A gospel choir appears in Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" video, but the vocals on the song are all Smith - about 20 tracks of his voice were used to make him sound like a chorus.

Every Breath You TakeThe Police

"Every Breath You Take" by The Police feels like a love song, but a careful listen reveals it's about a stalker. Sting called it "a nasty little song, really rather evil. It's about jealousy and surveillance and ownership."

We Will Rock YouQueen

There are no actual drums on Queen's "We Will Rock You," just lots of foot stomping.