, a songwriter and preacher from Virginia, describes composing 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 July 1942 in a slower, African American gospel style and in 1946-7 by Sister Rosetta Tharpe with barrelhouse piano; the song in Ely's version was recorded in 1953 but composed in 1934.
Artists covering the song
Many notable artists have performed the song, including Johnny Cash on the posthumous album '. The slower, black gospel melody was used by Tharpe into the 1960s, and covered by folksinger Rolf Cahn, and gospel artist Liz McComb. In 1967 the song was featured in the film Cool Hand Luke while Luke is digging a grave, performed by Harry Dean Stanton. The lines "Meet me, Jesus, meet me / Won't you meet me in the middle of the air / And if my wings should fail me, Lord / Won't you provide me with another pair" in some recorded versions are shared with some recorded versions of the traditional song "In My Time of Dying". In 1980, The Singing Cookes recorded the song on the album, Live. In 1985, The Nelons recorded the song on the album, In One Accord. in 1986, Janet Paschal recorded the song on the album, Live!. In 1989 Russ Taff covered this song on the album The Way Home and also as an extended version on the 1991 album Under Their Influence. In 1997 it was featured in the film, The Apostle, performed by the movie's star Robert Duvall. In 2006 Crooked Still recorded the song on the album Shaken by a Low Sound, which is featured in The Last of Us Part 2. In the 2011 film Blackthorn, star Sam Shepard sings the song. In 2012 a cover was recorded by Scott Lucas and the Married Men for their Blood Half Moon album. Through the latter-half of 2018 this version was played on tour by Scott Lucas' primary band, Local H. In 2015 Tom Jones recorded the song on his Praise and Blame album. In 2017, Bonfire Records Bluegrass recording artists, Wilson Banjo Co. recorded a cover of "Ain't No Grave" on their album Spirits in the Hills. In 2017 a cover of the song by Hidden Citizens appears in the trailer for the film Aftermath. In 2017, a version of the song performed by Bror Gunnar Jansson was used over the end credits of Episode 1 of Damnation. In 2018, the song was used as the end credits to the final episode of the first season of Altered Carbon. In 2019, an adapted version was released by the band Cageless Birds on their album We Bow, and appears on the Bethel Music albumVictory,'' with Molly Skaggs singing the lead vocals in both songs.
Johnny Cash's version
Johnny Cash covered "Ain't No Grave" shortly before his death in September 2003. The recording was released on February 9, 2010, as part of a posthumous album titled . In 2010 Cash's version of the song was featured on the episode "Patriot Down" of NCIS. In 2011 WWE professional wrestler The Undertaker briefly used Cash's version as his entrance theme in the lead up to and including his match at WrestleMania XXVII with Triple H. In 2012 Quentin Tarantino used Cash's version in the film Django Unchained. In 2016 Cash's version was featured in the end credits to the first episode of Westworld. In 2017 Cash's version was featured in the second trailer for the movie . In 2017 Cash's version was featured in the 2017 BBC television documentary The Scottish Bounty Hunter starring Christian Matlock.
