The song “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder” was written by James Milton Black and originally published in 1874. It has since become a standard of many gospel choirs, including The Blackwood Brothers.
The song is about keeping a positive attitude in the face of hardship and death. It tells its listeners that when they are called up yonder to join their loved ones, they will be welcomed with open arms.
It has been recorded by many artists over the years, including Bobby Bare on his 1971 album “Sacred Songs”. This recording peaked at number 60 on the US Country charts. The most popular version was performed by Johnny Cash during his live shows from 1974-1985 with The Carter Family trio also appearing on stage for these performances from 1976-1981 before he died in 2003. His performance reached number 18 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart and spent eighteen weeks on it total as well as topping out at number one for three consecutive weeks on the Canadian RPM Country Singles charts.
The song was also made into a documentary film in 2003 and won an Emmy award for “Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special” at that year’s ceremony.
It has been covered many times by popular artists including Johnny Cash, Bobby Bare, George Jones with Tammy Wynette, Elvis Presley (in his first live performance after joining the Army) as well as Willie Nelson who would later take up touring again when he heard it being played during one of his concerts. Many others have performed it too such as The Carter Family trio among other country music singers chosen to sing their own version of this song mentioning how they felt when they were called up yonder themselves. It has also been performed by the likes of Tammy Wynette, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash.
The Lyrics:
“I’m just an old-fashioned country boy I don’t wear highfalutin clothes Don’t own no stocks nor bonds Nor have a bank account or ties And when they call the roll up yonder I won’t be there.”
Oh Lordy! My soul is happy for my final resting place will never need to fear again; Not one little bit! For when this earthly home we leave behind us, Our souls are free at last. We’ll meet with all our loved ones in that promised land above—Where Christ has gone before. So meekly wait until thy summons comes from Jesus’ hand,
We’ll live in peace and harmony when the roll is called up yonder.
When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder: A History – The song was first released during the American Civil War by Union soldiers as they marched to battle against Confederates. It has also been performed by all kinds of different singers, but it became especially popular among country artists like Tammy Wynette, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash. People have speculated that this may be because soldiers who died on both sides of the war are united when their souls ascend together when “the roll is called up yonder.” As a result, many people throughout history have sung these lyrics with an air of optimism; looking forward to meeting loved ones again after death. According to Johnny Cash’s autobiography, when he performed the song for his daughter Rosanne during her final days in a Nashville hospital in 2004, she responded: “Daddy, that sounds like heaven.”
Johnny Cash’s autobiography, when he performed the song for his daughter Rosanne during her final days in a Nashville hospital in 2004, she responded: “Daddy, that sounds like heaven.”. It has also been performed by all kinds of different singers, but it became especially popular among country artists like Tammy Wynette, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash. People have speculated that this may be because soldiers who died on both sides of the war are united when their souls ascend together when “the roll is called up yonder.” As a result, many people throughout history have sung these lyrics to commemorate the loss of soldiers.
The song has been interpreted in many different ways by people throughout history, but one meaning that is often attributed to it is how when a person dies they will be called up (or ascend) to heaven which sounds like an instrument playing or an angel’s voice singing. In this way, “the roll” refers not only to the hymnbook that contains these lyrics for churchgoers who sing during funerals and memorials—but also all of those souls who have died after being parted from their bodies at some point on earth.
