"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. 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" and prophesies that they will one day be resurrected at God's command, picturing the national resurrection of Israel.
In the 1920's a few "Dry Bones" were recorded, but one was a sermon with no melody and the others were songs, which didn't have the familiar "bone-connection" melody-line.
A few of these different "Dry Bones" are on the bottom of this post.
The first version with the familiar melody and theme was recorded in 1926.
(o) Rev. J.M. Gates (1926) (as "Dry Bones In The Valley")
Recorded December 1, 1926 in Chicago
Released on Victor 35810
Listen here (the "bone connection" starts at 1 min and 40 sec in the YT below)
(c) Famous Myers Jubilee Singers (1928) (as "Ezekiel Prophesied To The Dry Bones")
Recorded May 1928 in Chicago
Released on Paramount 12667
Listen here (the "bone connection" starts at 1 min and 10 sec in the YT below)
(c) Fairview Jubilee Quartette (1930) (as "Them Bones Walking Around")
Recorded March 24, 1930 in New York City
Released on Perfect 142, Romeo 5016, Oriole 8016 and Jewel 20016
Listen here:
(c) Mitchell's Christian Singers (1934) (as "Them Bones")
Recorded August 21, 1934 in New York City
Released on Melotone 5-12-67 and Perfect JL 113
Listen here:
(c) Fisk Jubilee Singers (1935) (as "Dry Bones")
Recorded April 1935 in Chicago
Released around 1946 on Rainbow 723
Listen here:
(c) Hallelujah Joe and Congregation (=Joe McCoy) (1935)
(as "Dry Bones In The Valley")
Recorded May 15, 1935 in Chicago
Released on Decca 7802
Listen here:
(c) Carolinians (1938) (as "Dry Bones")
Recorded September 27, 1938
Released on Bluebird B-7917
Listen here:
(c) Elder Charles Beck (1939) (as "Dry Bones")
Recorded July 19, 1939 in New York City
Released on Bluebird B-8317
Listen here:
In 1941 the Delta Rhythm Boys introduced a version of “Dry Bones” with a musical hook, which was to raise their voices from bass to falsetto as they climb from toe bone to head bone. And vice versa.
(c) Delta Rhythm Boys (1941) (as "Dry Bones")
Recorded december 16, 1940 in New York City
Released on Decca 8522 and Decca 4406
Listen here: Dry Bones - Delta Rhythm Boys - DeKnight.mp3
Or watch here a video from the 1940's
In 1984 British punk band Broken Bones covered the song on their album of the same name.
(c) Broken Bones (1984) (as "Dem Bones")
Listen here:
British-born rapper M.I.A. later used it on 2010’s "The Message", updating the sequence to: "Hand-bone connects to the internet/ Connected to the Google/ Connected to the government".
(c) M.I.A. (2010) (as "The Message")
Listen here:
(c) Gregory Porter (2021) (as "Dry Bones")
Listen here: (after 2 min and 16 sec in the YT below)
A song closely connected to "Dry Bones" is Ezekiel Saw the Wheel - Wikipedia
It has the same meter.
(o) Fisk University Jubilee Singers (1921) (as "Ezekiel Saw The Wheel")
Recorded December 20, 1920 in New York City
Released on Columbia A3370
Listen here:
There is also a sermon titled "Dry Bones In The Valley part 1 and part 2" recorded by Calvin P. Dixon (aka Black Billy Sunday), which lyrics are based on 2 different stories from the Bible
Part 1 is a sermon derived from the Book of Judges: Judges 19:1-20: 6.
And part 2 is a sermon derived from Ezekiel 37:1-14
(o) Calvin P. Dixon (1925) (as "Dry Bones In The Valley Part 1 and Part 2")
Recorded January 16, 1925
Released on Columbia 14089-D
In 1928 the Jubilee Gospel Team also recorded a version with a combination of lyrics from the Book of Judges: Judges 19:1-20: 6. and from Ezekiel 37:1-14
But not with the familiar "bone connection" melody-line.
(c) Jubilee Gospel Team (1928) (as "Dry Bones In The Valley")
Recorded in September 1928 in Long Island City, NY
Paramount 12835 and QRS R7013
Listen here:
Yet another "Dry Bones In the Valley" was recorded in 1927 by Rev. Leora Ross
Lyrics from Ezekiel 37:1-14, but also not with the familiar "bone connection" melody-line.
(c) Rev Leora Ross (1927) (as "Dry Bones In The Valley")
Recorded May 4, 1927
Released on Okeh 8486
And yet another "Dry Bones" was recorded in 1928 by Bascom Lamar Lunsford (different lyrics and different melody)
(c) Bascomb Lamar Lunsford (1928) (as "Dry Bones")
February 6, 1928 in Ashland, KY
Released on Brunswick 314
Listen here:
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