Boggs was born in Norton, Virginia and began working in the coal mines of Appalachia at the age of twelve. At around this time, Boggs became interested in the banjo. As was the case of many musicians and performers of his era, Boggs learned to play the banjo watching and listening to family members and other performers, drawing additional influence from local African American musicians.
Boggs, while playing a traditional-style of play, did not play in the knock-down, sometimes called clawhammer or frailing style, instead employing a three-finger method that involved picking upwards on the strings of the banjo and permitted him to execute crisp single-note runs in a manner similar to that of a fingerstyle guitarist. Nevertheless, Boggs' style should not be confused with the bluegrass style of playing otherwise known as Scruggs style, made famous by Earl Scruggs, which also involves up-picking the banjo strings.
In 1920 Dock Boggs became influenced by blues tunes. He heard music played and sung by African-Americans while working in the coal mines and around the railroads of Appalachia. In 1927 he attended an audition in Bristol, Tennessee with the Brunswick record company. He was offered a contract to record with Brunswick and as a result travelled to New York where he recorded eight sides: "Sugar Baby," "Down Home Blues," "Country Blues," "Sammie Where Have You Been So Long," "Danville Girl," "Pretty Polly," "New Prisoner's Song" and "Hard Luck Blues." After these sessions, Boggs never recorded for Brunswick again.
By 1933, Boggs had given up hope of making a living as a musician. He hocked his banjo and did not play again until the early 1960s when he was re-discovered by Mike Seeger of the New Lost City Ramblers. As a result of his relationship with Seeger, Boggs enjoyed a renaissance of sorts during the Folk Revival, and recorded again.
Glory Land
Dock Boggs Lyrics
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Who left because of pain, Thank God, up there they'll die no more, They'll suffer not again.Then weep not, friends, I'm going home, Up there we'll cry no more.No coffins will be made up there, No graves on that bright shore.The lame will walk in Glory Land, The blind up there will see.The deaf in Glory Land will hear, And the dumb will talk to me.The doctor will not have to call, The undertakes, no.We'll have no pain up there to bear, Just walk the streets of gold.We'll need no sun in Glory Land, The moon and stars won't shine, For Christ himself is light up there, Pure rays of love divine.Then look away to that good land
Where peace and joy sublime
Shall fill our hearts to runnin' o'er, There's shoutin' all the time.Now won't you mothers meet us there, With all your children too, To live in bliss forevermore, And never say adieu.Then what a land our Lord's prepared, No death, no pain, no tears.He made our robes as white as snow
And built us mansions there.
The song "Glory Land" by Dock Boggs speaks about the promise of eternal life in heaven for those who have passed away from the trials and sufferings of life. The singer of the song tells his friends that they need not grieve for those who have left this world, as they will experience no more pain or suffering in the afterlife. Instead, he urges them to focus on the joyous reunion they will share with their loved ones in Glory Land, where there are no more coffins, graves, or pain.
The song speaks to the prevalent theme in traditional southern music of finding hope and comfort in the face of adversity. Boggs contrasts the hardships of life on earth with the joyous, utopian existence promised in heaven. The lyrics highlight the biblical promise of eternal life and the idea that death is not an end, but a transition to a better place.
Overall, "Glory Land" is a meditation on the unwavering hope that is central to faith, particularly in the face of death and mourning. The song's message is one of joy and comfort, as it affirms the belief that there is a better world beyond this one.
Line by Line Meaning
If you have friends in Glory Land
If you know anyone who is in heaven
Who left because of pain, Thank God, up there they'll die no more, They'll suffer not again.
Those who have died and gone to heaven will suffer no more from the pain they experienced on earth.
Then weep not, friends, I'm going home, Up there we'll cry no more.
Don't cry, my friends, because I'm going to heaven where there's no sadness or tears.
No coffins will be made up there, No graves on that bright shore.
There's no need for coffins or graves in heaven because death doesn't exist.
The lame will walk in Glory Land, The blind up there will see.
In heaven, those who were once physically disabled will be able to walk and see.
The deaf in Glory Land will hear, And the dumb will talk to me.
People who were once deaf or unable to speak will be able to hear and talk in heaven.
The doctor will not have to call, The undertakes, no.
No doctors or undertakers are needed in heaven because there's no sickness or death there.
We'll have no pain up there to bear, Just walk the streets of gold.
There's no physical or emotional pain in heaven, and the streets are made of gold.
We'll need no sun in Glory Land, The moon and stars won't shine, For Christ himself is light up there, Pure rays of love divine.
There's no need for the sun, moon, or stars in heaven because Christ's love provides all the light needed.
Then look away to that good land
Think about heaven and what it will be like.
Where peace and joy sublime
A place of perfect peace and joy.
Shall fill our hearts to runnin' o'er, There's shoutin' all the time.
In heaven, our hearts will be filled with so much joy that we'll shout and celebrate all the time.
Now won't you mothers meet us there, With all your children too, To live in bliss forevermore, And never say adieu.
Mothers and their children can live together in heaven forever and never have to say goodbye.
Then what a land our Lord's prepared, No death, no pain, no tears.
Heaven is a place that the Lord has created where there's no death, pain, or tears.
He made our robes as white as snowAnd built us mansions there.
In heaven, our souls are pure and holy, and God has made mansions for us to live in.
Contributed by Samantha J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.