Go Rest High on That Mountain
| "Go Rest High on That Mountain" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Maybe Tonight" |
"Go Rest High on That Mountain" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in August 1995 as the sixth single from his album When Love Finds You. It is a eulogic ballad. Gill began writing the song following the death of country music superstar Keith Whitley, who died in 1989. Gill did not finish the song until a few years later following the death of his older brother Bob, in 1993, of a heart attack. Ricky Skaggs and Patty Loveless both sang background vocals on the record.
The song won the CMA's Song of the Year award in 1996[1] and a BMI Most-Performed Song award in 1997.[2] It also received two Grammy Awards for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song in the 38th Grammy Awards.[3] The single reached No. 14 on the Country Singles chart in 1995.[4] It has sold 648,000 digital copies in the US since becoming available for download.[5]
On May 2, 2013, Gill performed the song with Patty Loveless at the funeral of fellow country artist George Jones. At one point during the performance, Gill became too emotional to sing some of the words, but was able to complete the song by focusing primarily on his guitar playing. In a speech just prior to their performance, Gill underlined their duet by stating that he always was aware of a "special anointing" in his duets with Loveless, and compared them particularly to Jones' duets with singer Melba Montgomery during the 1960s.[6]
Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably calling the song "beautiful, majestic, and easily one of the best singles of Gill's already distinguished career." She goes on to say that the composition "boasts a touching spiritual lyric and Gill's consistently impeccable vocal delivery."[7]
Music video
The music video was directed by John Lloyd Miller and premiered in mid-1995.
Chart performance
"Go Rest High on That Mountain" debuted at number 70 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of September 2, 1995.
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8] | 7 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 14 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[10] | 74 |
See also
Notes
- ^ Cash, Rosanne; Rudder, Randy (2006). Country Music Reader. Country Music Books. p. 103. ISBN 0-9769745-1-7.
- ^ Carlin, Richard (2003). Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary. Taylor & Francis. p. 150. ISBN 0-415-93802-3.
- ^ "Past winners search". Grammy.com. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
- ^ "Vince Gill > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 7, 2015). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles: December 7, 2015". RoughStock.
- ^ YouTube. Grand Ole Opry. Vince Gill and Patty Loveless - "Go Rest High On That Mountain" at George Jones' Funeral | Opry. 2013 Possum Tracks Touring Co. Retrieved January 7, 2015. YouTube
- ^ Billboard, September 2, 1995
- ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2841." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 18, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ "Vince Gill Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1995". RPM. December 18, 1995. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
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