This version of I’ll Fly Away began with jazz pianist Mark Davidson’s tribute to his Mother. Mark did an album of songs his Mom would have liked.
I loved it so much, I asked if I could do a sing-along version. He kindly consented.
The song was written by a white boy in the South while out picking cotton. Albert Brumley wrote it in 1929, published it in 1932. It became a standard in many hymnals and has been wide recorded.
I’ve never picked cotton but I know the feeling of wanting to leaving my trouble and fly away. On some days, heaven sounds like the only place I want to be.