Dem bones. Dem bones. Dem dry bones!The song is based on a passage in Ezekiel:
Dem bones. Dem bones. Dem dry bones!
Dem bones. Dem bones. Dem dry bones!
Oh, hear the word of the LORD.The toe bone connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone connected to the ankle bone,
The ankle bone connected to the shin bone,
The shin bone connected to the knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the hip bone,
The hip bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the head bone,
The head bone connected to ALL bones,
Oh, hear the word of the LORD!
Again he [God] said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 37:4-6 (KJV)The most well known melody sung with song was supposedly written by the African American songwriter, James Weldon Johnson. The words, however, vary somewhat in different versions and the lyrics have no copyright. Here are examples of different versions of the chorus:
I know it brother brother,This African American spirtual has also become a beloved children's singing game. It is excellent for teaching children the names of sundry body parts as the children tap each part as they sing it.
Indeed I know it brother, I know it HEY!
Dem bones gonna rise again.
--Dem Bones (Gonna Rise Again)Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun'
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna walk aroun'
I hear the word of the Lord!
-- Dem Dry Bones International Lyrics PlaygroundEzekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
Ezekiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
"Oh, hear the word of the Lord."
--KIDiddles
You tube: Delta Rhythm Boys - Dry Bones
This link shows the Delta Rhythm Boys performing Dry Bones, which is one of their most famous songs. The Delta Rhythm Boys were a musical group. In the 1940’s and 1950's, their performances on the radio, television, and stage are probably responsible for making this song popular to a wide audience.