[In memory of my sister and father. This is a remix/mashup of our two favorite old folk gospel songs, from original recordings of us in the 1980s. 'I'll Fly Away" by Albert Brumley, written in 1929; and Heaven is Not Far Away by Henry Thompson - 1960] [Intro – soft guitar / distant banjo] Some glad morning when this life is over I’ll fly away… fly away… Loved ones at home are waiting to greet me I am so glad I’m going that way… going that way… [Verse / Call & Response] When the shadows of this life have grown I’ll fly away… I’ll fly away… Seems I can hear the angels sweetly singing Sweetly singing… heaven is not so far away… not far away… I’ll be at home some wonderful morning Wonderful morning… with the redeemed forever to stay… ever to stay… When I get there we’ll have an old-time singing Old-time singing… heaven is not so far away… not far away… [Build – Alternating Choruses] Oh how I love to think about heaven Beautiful heaven… wonderful land of perfect day… glorious day… Now I can hear the joy bells sweetly ringing Glory bells ringing… heaven is not so far away… not far away… I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away (in the morning) When I die, hallelujah, by and by, I’ll fly away… [Final Lift – Tight Blend] Loved ones at home are waiting to greet me I am so glad I’m going that way… going that way… Now I can hear the joy bells sweetly ringing Sweetly ringing… heaven is not so far away… not far away… [Final Chorus – Big Harmony] I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away (in the morning) When I die, hallelujah, by and by, Heaven is not so far away… not far away… I’ll fly away… fly away… [pause – instruments ring out] Fly away… Fly away.. [pause] In the morning….. [outro – bluegrass band & finger-picked guitar]
