Ain't No Grave
Ain't No Grave (also known as Gonna Hold This Body Down) is a traditional American gospel song attributed to Claude Ely (1922-1978) of Virginia.
Claude Ely describes inventing the song while sick with tuberculosis in 1934 when he was twelve years old. His family prayed for his health, and in response he spontaneously performed this song. Originally recorded by Bozie Sturdivant in 1941 in a slower, Negro spiritual style,[1] and in 1946-7 by Sister Rosetta Tharpe with barrelhouse piano;[2] the song in Ely's version was recorded in 1953 but composed in 1934.[3] Many notable artists have performed the song, including Johnny Cash on the posthumous album American VI: Ain't No Grave. The song was featured in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke while Luke (Paul Newman) is digging a grave, and it was also featured in the 1997 film, The Apostle, starring Robert Duvall.
WWE professional wrestler The Undertaker briefly used this song as his entrance theme in 2011 in the lead up to and including his match at Wrestlemania XXVII with Triple H.
Quentin Tarantino used this song for the trailer for Django Unchained
References
- ^ Michael Stone and Brian Peters. "Reviews of the Library of Congress archives reissued on Rounder Records". RootsWorld Online World Music Magazine. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ "Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Complete Recorded Works, Vol 3 1946-1947, track 21". all music.com. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ Radio Diaries (5 May 2011). "A Nephew's Quest: Who Was Brother Claude Ely?". National Public Radio. http://www.npr.org/2011/05/05/136019632/a-nephews-quest-who-was-brother-claude-ely. Retrieved 6 May 2011.