Dry Bones

Album: Dry Bones (1905)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This traditional spiritual song has been used to teach basic anatomy to children, although its description of how the bones come together is not anatomically correct - the shoulder bone isn't really connected to the neck bone. The lyrics are based on Ezekiel 37:1-14, where the prophet visits the Valley of Dry Bones and causes them to become alive by God's command. The melody was written in the early 1900s by African-American author and songwriter James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938).
  • Possibly the best known version of this spiritual was recorded by American vocal group The Delta Rhythm Boys, who were popular for over 50 years in the 20th century. Other artists who have recorded the song include Fats Waller. The Four Lads, Mills Brothers Shirley Caesar, Rosemary Clooney and as "Dem Bones", The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.
  • During The Simpsons fourth season episode, Homer's Triple Bypass, Dr. Nick Riviera is operating on Homer. Unsure of the procedure, he sings this song in the middle of the operation to help him work out what to do. The bungling surgeon gets the lyrics wrong and ends up singing "the red thing's connected to my wristwatch."
  • Robert Randolph & the Family Band recorded an updated version of Dry Bones on their 2010 album We Walk This Road.
  • The Delta Rhythm Boys version of this song appears in the 1988 movie Rain Man, which won the Oscar for Best Picture.

Comments: 2

  • Edward Pearce from Ashford, Kent, EnglandEisso, The version of Dry Bones in The Singing Detective was by Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians.
  • Eisso from Groningen, NetherlandsWhat was the version used in 'The singing detective'? It was less smooth than this one and I loved it.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.