Dem Bones

"Dem Bones"
Song
Form	Spiritual
Writer(s)	James Weldon Johnson

Dem Bones — also called Dry Bones and Dem Dry Bones — is a well-known spiritual song. The melody was composed by African-American author and songwriter James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938). Some sources also credit his brother, J Rosomond Johnson.^[1] First recorded by Bascomb Lunsford in February 1928, Brunswick 231. Both a long and a shortened version of the song are widely known. The lyrics are inspired by Ezekiel 37:1-14, where the Prophet visits the "Valley of Dry Bones"^[2] and prophesies that they will one day be resurrected at God's command, picturing the national resurrection of Israel.

The song

The chorus and verses are noted for many variations among performers, but fall into the following style. The second verse reverses the first in a pattern similar to:

The neck bone (dis)connected from the head bone

… etc…

Intro 1 Ezekiel connected dem dry bones, Ezekiel connected dem dry bones, Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones, Now hear the word of the Lord. Verse 1 Toe bone connected to the foot bone Foot bone connected to the heel bone Heel bone connected to the ankle bone Ankle bone connected to the shin bone Shin bone connected to the knee bone Knee bone connected to the thigh bone Thigh bone connected to the hip bone Hip bone connected to the back bone Back bone connected to the shoulder bone Shoulder bone connected to the neck bone Neck bone connected to the head bone Now hear the word of the Lord. Chorus Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around. Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around. Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around. Now hear the word of the Lord.

Intro 2 Ezekiel disconnected dem dry bones, Ezekiel disconnected dem dry bones, Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones, Now hear the word of the Lord. Verse 2 Head bone (dis)connected from the neck bone Neck bone connected from the shoulder bone Shoulder bone connected from the back bone Back bone connected from the hip bone Hip bone connected from the thigh bone Thigh bone connected from the knee bone Knee bone connected from the shin bone Shin bone connected from the ankle bone Ankle bone connected from the heel bone Heel bone connected from the foot bone Foot bone connected from the toe bone Now hear the word of the Lord. Chorus Dem bones, dem bones gonna rise again. Dem bones, dem bones gonna rise again. Dem bones, dem bones gonna rise again. Now hear the word of the Lord. Finale Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. Now hear the word of the Lord.

Artists

Over the years, the song has been played and recorded by many artists, including:

• Shirley Caesar, gospel version notable for not adhering to the distinctive traditional melody.
• Clara Ward Singers, lead vocals by Malvilyn Statham
• Rosemary Clooney
• Caravans, lead vocals by Inez Andrews, circa.1960
• The Delta Rhythm Boys (developed the song in recordings for Decca in 1941,1942 and 1947 to the version known today by increasing the pitch by a semi-tone with each bone connected and decreasing for each bone disconnected.
• Deep River Boys Featuring Harry Douglas with Pete Brown's Orchestra (Recorded in Oslo on August 23, 1956 and released on the 78 rpm record HMV AL 6019).
• The Four Lads, featured in the final episode of The Prisoner
• The Kingsmen
• Alvin and the Chipmunks
• The Lennon Sisters
• Mills Brothers
• Nicodemus Jamaican DJ, bone man connection (1981)
• Tennessee Ernie Ford
• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, 2003 album Glory to His Name
• Fats Waller
• Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians (Recorded on 30 April 1947 and released on the 78 rpm record Decca 23948^[3]), used in the 1986 BBC television serial, The Singing Detective.
• Phish played this song to start the third set of their show on 12/31/2014. Fishman played his Electrolux vacuum, which was the start of the night's ceremonial NYE show gag.
• The Cathedrals, 1986 album "Travelin' Live"
• The Kidsongs Kids and two doctors who are a black man and an Asian woman on "What I Want to Be" as "Them Bones" with rap verses.

See also

• Ezekiel Saw the Wheel

References

1. "Locust St". Retrieved 1 November 2014.
2. "Dry Bones, Valley of," in Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature, David L. Jeffery, editor. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, November 1, 1992, pages 216-217, ISBN 0-8028-3634-8
3. Entry for Decca 23948 on http://www.discogs.com (including image of disc label). Accessed 13 March 2012.