Albert E. Brumley was born on a cotton
farm near Spiro, Oklahoma, in 1905. He quit school after tenth grade and didn’t
have much of a future to look forward to—except to pick cotton for the rest of
his life.
When he was sixteen years old, he
attended a singing school in his farm community of Rock Island. He could sing
better than most adults and he could harmonize, too.
The medium of radio was gaining
popularity as he grew up, and one of the most requested songs was a sad ballad
called “If I Had the Wings of an Angel,” which said: “Now if I had the wings of
an angel, Over these prison walls I would fly, I’d fly to the arms of my poor
darling, And there I’d be willing to die.”
At nineteen he went to a music school
in the Ozark Mountains to learn how to write music. He dropped out after a year
and went back to picking cotton. One hot Oklahoma day Albert was in the fields,
picking cotton and singing this song. He saw a bird flying away to a better
place, and the thought of flying away suddenly seemed quite appealing to him,
and he began composing “I’ll Fly Away” on the spot. He said: “I was dreaming of
flying away from that cotton field when I wrote ‘I’ll Fly away.’”
The middle verse of Albert’s song
echoes the old prison ballad when it says: “When the shadows of this life have
grown, I’ll fly away; Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I’ll fly away.”
It was an additional three years later until Brumley worked out the rest of the song, using prison as an analogy for earthly life. Brumley has stated, "When I wrote it, I had no idea that it would become so universally popular."
His fortunes changed when he enrolled in the Hartford Musical Institute in Hartford, Arkansas, in 1926. With nothing but $1.25 in his pocket, driven by a dream, he walked 26 miles from Spiro, Oklahoma to Hartford, Arizona. He knocked on E.M. Barlett's door and said: "Mr. Bartett, I hear you can teach a fella 'bout music."
Even though they'd never met, Bartlett took Brumley in, letting him sleep on his couch with the understanding that Albert would go to work for the Hartford Music Company after graduating.
Albert married Goldie Schell, whom he met while teaching in a singing school in Powell, Missouri. With her encouragement, albert mailed "Ill Fly Away" to the Hartford Music Company. It was published in 1932, and shortly afterward, Albert was hired by Hartford for $12.50 a month.
He spent thirty-four years writing for the Hartford and Stamps/Baxter companies before forming the Albert E. Brumley & Sons Music Company. In all, Albert wrote over 800 songs and became one of the most respected names in the development of 20th Southern gospel music.
From 1931, he spent the rest of his life in Powell, Missouri, on the banks of Big Sugar Creek with his wife. Together they raised six children.
In time, Brumley became known as the world's most recorded songwriter, but none of his songs rivaled the popularity of "I'll Fly Away."
This is perhaps the quintessential gospel song that exemplifies "theological escapism" -- escaping the toils of earth for the joy of heaven. Birds play prominently in the gospel song literature as do angels and flying. Their freedom from gravity symbolizes the freedom from pain, toil and tribulation.
Verse One
"Some glad morning when this life is o'er,
I'll fly away;
To a home on God's celestial shore,
I'll fly away."
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
"For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words."
Enduringword.com, David Guzik: The manner in which Jesus will gather us to Himself is impressive. But the main point is that whatever the state of the Christians (dead or alive) at the Lord's coming, they will always be with the Lord. This is the great reward of heaven -- to be with Jesus. Death can't break out unity with Jesus or with other Christians.
Verse Two
"When the shadows of this life have gone,
I'll fly away;
Like a bird from prison bars has flown,
I'll fly away."
Psalm 90:10
"Our days may come to seventy, or eighty, if our strength endures, yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away."
Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: The afflictions of the saints often come from God's love . . . Our whole life is toilsome and troublesome . . . We are taught by all this to stand in awe.
Studylight.org, Bridgeway Bible Commentary: Making the most of a short life . . . God alone is permanent and enduring, and therefore the only true security is found in Him. Human life, by contrast is short and uncertain, and is brought to an end as God decides and when He chooses. No matter how long a person lives, even to a thousand years, the number of years is insignificant compared with the timelessness of God . . . Those who love God should therefore seek God's wisdom, so that they might use their short lives in the best way possible. Since the psalmist wants to live his life wisely, he asks for God's help. Then sorrow will be replaced by joy, and his life will become one of fruitful service for God.
Verse Three
"Just a few more days and then,
I'll fly away;
To a land where joy shall never end,
I'll fly away."
Psalm 55:6
"I said, 'Oh, that I had wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.'"
Studylight.org, Bridgeway Commentary: Overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness, David fears that death is upon him. He wishes that he could escape from it all. He would like to fly away like a bird, so that he could find a quiet place where he could shelter from the storm . . . In his distress, David turns to God and his faith awakens. He knows that God will save those who trust in Him, and overthrow those who deliberately ignore Him . . . He decides finally that the only way to be relieved of the burden on his mind is to turn it over to God. He is confident that God will look after the righteous and punish the wicked.
Refrain
"I'll fly away, Oh Glory,
I'll fly away;
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I'll fly away."
One cannot deny the sheer fun of singing "I'll Fly Away" with its rousing melody. It has been called the most recorded gospel song, and it is frequently used in worship services. It appears in many hymnals where it is listed under the topics of eternal life, heaven an acceptance. It is a stand song at bluegrass jam sessions and is often performed at funerals.
By His Grace . . .
I am indebted to the following resources:
Robert J. Morgan, Then Sings My Soul, Special Edition
William J. Petersen and Ardythe Petersen, The Complete Book of Hymns
Godtube.com; Godtube Staff
Christianmusicand hymns.com
Umcdiscipleship.org, Dr. Hawn
DianaleaghMatthews.com
Illflyawayfoundation.org
