"I'll Fly Away" from By and By, a suite for string quartet and singer

Performers:
Caroline Shaw, voice & violin
Lorna Tsai, violin
Sage Cole, viola
Shay Rudolph, cello
(August 2012)

I wrote this set of songs to play with some very good friends of mine one spring. They're settings of lyrics from traditional gospel and bluegrass songs, but with a new melody (except for the occasional hint of the original) that follows conventions of both old time singing and medieval plainchant. — C.S.


Lyrics
(adapted from the original by Albert E. Brumley):

Some bright morning when this life is over
I'll fly away
To that home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away

I'll fly away oh glory
I'll fly away
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone
I'll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly
I'll fly away

refrain

Oh how glad and happy when we meet
I'll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet
I'll fly away

refrain

Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joys will never end
I'll fly away

refrain