HAPPY IN PRISON
Created on 26/06/2006Latest update on 18/12/2023
Artist: Ernest Phipps & his Holiness Singers
Author: Ernest Phipps
Label: Victor
Year: 1927
During the Bristol Sessions. In 1925 published in gospelbook Saint Helena Island Spirituals and in 1926 as When I Lay My Burden Down and Since I Laid My Burden Down in Howard Odum's Negro Workaday Songs. Tune related with Will The Circle Be Unbroken (see there).
Covers:
- 1928:
Elders McIntorsh & Edwards Sanctified Singers [as Since I Laid My Burden Down for OKeh and reissued on The Anthology Of American Folk Music]
- 1929:
Blind Roosevelt Graves [idem]
- 1929:
Rev. Edward W. Clayborn [as When I Lay My Burden Down]
- 1930:
Bessemer Sunset Four [idem]
- 1938:
Carter Family [as Happy In The Prison]
- 1940:
Roy Acuff [idem, on the B-side of Will The Circle Be Unbroken]
- 1948:
Soul Stirrers [as Glory Glory]
- 1954:
Maddox Brothers & Rose [as Gonna Lay My Burden Down]
- 1956:
Odetta [as Glory Glory (When I Lay My Burden Down)]
- 1958:
Joseph Spence [as Glory Glory When I Lay My Burden Down]
- 1959:
- 1960:
- 1960:
- 1962:
Joey Dee & The Starliters [as Roly Poly]
- 1963:
- 1964:
Mississippi Fred McDowell [as When I Lay My Burden Down]
- 1964:
New Christy Minstrels [as Glory Glory (When I Lay My Burden Down)]
- 1964:
Big 3 [as Glory Glory]
- 1964:
- 1966:
Art Reynolds Singers [lead singer: Thelma Houston]
- 1966:
Staple Singers [as Glory Glory Hallelujah]
- 1968:
Furry Lewis [as When I Lay My Burden Down]
- 1971:
Byrds [as Glory Glory]
- 1973:
- 1974:
Ike & Tina Turner [as Glory Glory]
- 2001:
Victoria Williams [on a John Hurt tribute]
- 2004:
- 2005:
Dr. John [with Mavis Staples and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band]
Also inspired the tune of The Impressions' People Get Ready ('65).
