Dem Bones facts for kids

"Dem Bones" (also known as "Dry Bones" or "Dem Dry Bones") is a popular spiritual song. Spirituals are a type of religious folk song created by African Americans. The tune for "Dem Bones" was written by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) and his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson.

The song was first recorded in 1928 by The Famous Myers Jubilee Singers. You can find both long and short versions of this song. The words are inspired by a story from the Bible, in Ezekiel chapter 37. In this story, the prophet Ezekiel visits a "Valley of Dry Bones." He predicts that these bones will come back to life when God commands it. This story shows a picture of a new beginning.

About the Song

The song "Dem Bones" is famous for its catchy tune and lyrics that describe how the bones of the human body are connected. Many singers perform the song with slight changes, but they all follow a similar style.

The song often starts by connecting the bones, then reverses to disconnect them.

Famous Performances

Many artists have performed and recorded "Dem Bones" over the years.

Early Recordings

Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians recorded the song on April 30, 1947. They released it on a 78 rpm record through Decca Records. The Delta Rhythm Boys, another musical group, recorded it in 1950. They called their version "Dry Bones."

TV Show Appearances

A recording of the song by the Canadian singing group The Four Lads was used in a famous science fiction TV show. This happened in "Fall Out," the final episode of The Prisoner from 1967-68. In the episode, a character named Number 48 suddenly starts to lip sync to the song. This helps to interrupt a ceremony. Later, other characters are shown dancing to the same recording.

Fred Gwynne, an actor known for playing Herman Munster in the TV show The Munsters, also performed the song. He sang a solo version while playing his guitar. This performance was in a 1965 episode of The Munsters called "Will Success Spoil Herman Munster."