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{{Short description|American traditional spiritual song}}
'''Dem Bones''', '''Dry Bones''' or '''Dem Dry Bones''' is a well-known traditional ] song, often used to teach basic anatomy to children (although its description is far from anatomically correct). The melody was written by ]. Two versions of this traditional song are widely used, the second an abridgement of the first. The lyrics are based on ] 37:1-14, where the ] visits the Valley of Dry Bones<ref name="Jeffrey">"Dry Bones, Valley of," in ''Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature'', David L. Jeffery, editor. ], November 1, 1992, pages 216-217, ISBN 0-8028-3634-8</ref> and brings them to life under God's command.
{{for|the song by Alice in Chains|Them Bones}}
{{distinguish|text="]", a similar folk song}}


"'''Dem Bones'''" (also called "'''Dry Bones'''" and "'''Dem Dry Bones'''") is a ] song. The melody was composed by author and songwriter ] (1871–1938) and his brother, ].<ref>{{cite web
The chorus of the song is often used to teach children about skeletons:<br/>
|title=Locust St
:Toe bone connected to the foot bone
|url=http://inkhornterm.blogspot.co.uk/2007/04/one-offs-dry-bones-rev.html
:Foot bone connected to the leg bone
|accessdate=1 November 2014
:Leg bone connected to the knee bone...
}}</ref> It was first recorded by The Famous Myers Jubilee Singers in 1928. Both a long and a shortened version of the song are widely known. The lyrics are inspired by ] 37:1–14, in which the prophet ] visits the ]<ref name="Jeffrey">"Dry Bones, Valley of," in ''Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature'', David L. Jeffery, editor. ], November 1, 1992, pages 216-217, {{ISBN|0-8028-3634-8}}</ref> and prophesies that they will one day be resurrected at God's command, picturing the realization of the New Jerusalem.


==The song==
Over the years, the song has been covered by ], the ], ], ], and many other artists.


The chorus and verses are noted for many variations among performers, but fall into the following style. The second verse reverses the first in a pattern similar to:
==References in popular culture==
: The neck bone (dis)connected from the head bone
*] sings the song in the 1972 film, '']'' as a call-to-arms to the upper-classes to "bring back fear" by means of the ].
: ... etc...
*Dem Bones is an integral part of "]", the final episode of British cult show '']''. It is performed on screen in one scene and heard on a car radio in another. This version is performed by ].

*In one episode of ], Shaggy prepares a sandwich while singing "And the ham slice connected to the rye bread, lettuce connected to the boiled egg, mustard slapped on a salami slice, and the cheese is connected to the devilled ham..." in the style of Dem Bones.
{{quote|{{col-start}}{{col-2}}
*In '']'' episode, "Homer's Triple Bypass," ], stumped in the middle of the operation, sings the song in an effort to refresh his memory (although he bungles the lyrics and ends up singing "the red thing's connected to my wristwatch").
<poem>'''Intro 1'''
*Bob Barner based a ] of anatomy on this song.<ref name="Barner">"Bob Barner" Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2005. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2005. retrieved 5 December 2005</ref>
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
*In a second-season episode of '']'', ] sings a short verse during an autopsy to highlight his point about the hyoid bone, the only bone in the human body that is not connected to any other.
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
*In a third-season episode of '']'', a bad guy sings the song after explaining how he once killed a ] by cutting him into pieces.
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones,
*In the ] adventure game ], the song is performed in a bizarre dream sequence by ]'s parents in skeleton form. The lyrics prove to be integral to navigating ]'s fortress later in the game.
Hear the word of the Lord.

'''Verse 1'''
Toe bone connected to the foot bone
Foot bone connected to the heel bone
Heel bone connected to the ankle bone
Ankle bone connected to the leg bone
Leg bone connected to the knee bone
Knee bone connected to the thigh bone
Thigh bone connected to the hip bone
Hip bone connected to the back bone
Back bone connected to the shoulder bone
Shoulder bone connected to the neck bone
Neck bone connected to the head bone
Hear the word of the Lord.

'''Chorus'''
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Now hear the word of the Lord.</poem>{{col-2}}<poem>'''Intro 2'''
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem Bones Dem dry bones,
Hear the word of the Lord.

'''Verse 2'''
Head bone (dis)connected from the neck bone
Neck bone connected from the shoulder bone
Shoulder bone connected from the back bone
Back bone connected from the hip bone
Hip bone connected from the thigh bone
Thigh bone connected from the knee bone
Knee bone connected from the leg bone
Leg bone connected from the ankle bone
Ankle bone connected from the heel bone
Heel bone connected from the foot bone
Foot bone connected from the toe bone
Hear the word of the Lord.

'''Chorus'''
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Hear the word of the Lord.

'''Finale'''
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Hear the word of the Lord.</poem>{{col-end}}}}

==In popular culture==
*] recorded the song on 30 April 1947 and released it on the ] record ] 23948.<ref> (including image of disc label). ''www.discogs.com'', Accessed 13 March 2012.</ref> The ] recorded it in 1950 under the name "Dry Bones".
*A recording of the song by the Canadian vocal group ] was featured prominently in "]", the final episode of the 1967–68 science fiction series, '']''. The song is also performed at several points in the episode, most notably when the character of Number 48 spontaneously begins to ] to the recording in order to disrupt a ceremony involving the show's protagonist, Number 6. Later, several characters are shown dancing to the same recording.
*A recording of the song by The ] was used in the 1988 film ].
*] performs a solo version, accompanying himself on ], in a 1965 episode of '']'': "Will Success Spoil Herman Munster?"
*] performs the song in the 1972 film '']''.
*The song was used in the 1979 '']'' segment "Them Not-So-Dry Bones", about the skeletal system.
*] covered the song for the end credits of their 1999 direct-to-video film '']''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peXhQTH72_s | title=The Chipmunks - dem Bones &#124; with lyrics | website=] | date=30 October 2021 }}</ref>
*The song is performed on two episodes of the ] show '']'', in 2007.
*The song is used in a 2011 ] ] reminding the importance of ].


==See also== ==See also==
* ], a paraphrase of Ezekiel 1:15-21 * "]"
* ]
* "]", country song whose lyrics allude to “Dem Bones”


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}


] ]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 21:31, 21 December 2024

American traditional spiritual song For the song by Alice in Chains, see Them Bones. Not to be confused with "Dry Bones", a similar folk song.

"Dem Bones" (also called "Dry Bones" and "Dem Dry Bones") is a spiritual song. The melody was composed by author and songwriter James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) and his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson. It was first recorded by The Famous Myers Jubilee Singers in 1928. Both a long and a shortened version of the song are widely known. The lyrics are inspired by Ezekiel 37:1–14, in which the prophet Ezekiel visits the Valley of Dry Bones and prophesies that they will one day be resurrected at God's command, picturing the realization of the New Jerusalem.

The song

The chorus and verses are noted for many variations among performers, but fall into the following style. The second verse reverses the first in a pattern similar to:

The neck bone (dis)connected from the head bone
... etc...

Intro 1
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones,
Hear the word of the Lord.

Verse 1
Toe bone connected to the foot bone
Foot bone connected to the heel bone
Heel bone connected to the ankle bone
Ankle bone connected to the leg bone
Leg bone connected to the knee bone
Knee bone connected to the thigh bone
Thigh bone connected to the hip bone
Hip bone connected to the back bone
Back bone connected to the shoulder bone
Shoulder bone connected to the neck bone
Neck bone connected to the head bone
Hear the word of the Lord.

Chorus
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Now hear the word of the Lord.

Intro 2
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem Bones Dem dry bones,
Hear the word of the Lord.

Verse 2
Head bone (dis)connected from the neck bone
Neck bone connected from the shoulder bone
Shoulder bone connected from the back bone
Back bone connected from the hip bone
Hip bone connected from the thigh bone
Thigh bone connected from the knee bone
Knee bone connected from the leg bone
Leg bone connected from the ankle bone
Ankle bone connected from the heel bone
Heel bone connected from the foot bone
Foot bone connected from the toe bone
Hear the word of the Lord.

Chorus
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around.
Hear the word of the Lord.

Finale
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.
Hear the word of the Lord.

In popular culture

See also

References

  1. "Locust St". Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. "Dry Bones, Valley of," in Dictionary of Biblical Tradition in English Literature, David L. Jeffery, editor. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, November 1, 1992, pages 216-217, ISBN 0-8028-3634-8
  3. Entry for Decca 23948 (including image of disc label). www.discogs.com, Accessed 13 March 2012.
  4. "The Chipmunks - dem Bones | with lyrics". YouTube. 30 October 2021.
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