Ain't No Grave Lyrics
Johnny Cash
Lyrics
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
When I hear that trumpet sound I'm gonna rise right out of the ground
Ain't no grave can hold my body down
Well, look way down the river, what do you think I see?
I see a band of angels and they're coming after me
Ain't no grave can hold my body down
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
Well, look down yonder Gabriel put your feet on the land and sea
But Gabriel don't you blow your trumpet 'til you hear it from me
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
Ain't no grave can hold my body down
Well, meet me, Jesus, meet me, meet me in the middle of the air
And if these wings don't fail me I will meet you anywhere
Ain't no grave can hold my body down
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
Well, meet me mother and father, meet me down the river road
And momma you know that I'll be there when I check in my load
Ain't no grave can hold my body down
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
There ain't no grave can hold my body down
Song & Lyrics Facts
The song “Ain't No Grave” by Johnny Cash was released on February 26, 2010 as part of his posthumous album American VI: Ain't No Grave. The lyrics were written by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings and the music was composed by Johnny Cash himself.
It is a gospel-inspired track performed with acoustic guitar accompaniment and features backing vocals from June Carter Cash and The Tennessee Three. The lyrics are about how no matter what happens in life, death cannot stop us from being alive in spirit. They make reference to both Christian themes and folk traditions. In the chorus, Cash sings that "ain't no grave can hold my body down". This powerful message of resilience has since been covered by many other artists.