Go Rest High on That Mountain is a powerful, emotional song written and recorded by country music singer Vince Gill. Released in 1994 as a single from Gill’s album When Love Finds You, it was inspired by the death of Gill’s brother Bob in 1993. The song expresses the heartache of losing a loved one but also the hope that they have found peace in the afterlife. With its poetic lyrics and soothing melody, Go Rest High on That Mountain has become a modern country classic that continues to touch the hearts of listeners today.
What inspired Vince Gill to write Go Rest High on That Mountain?
In 1993, Vince Gill suffered a devastating personal loss when his older brother Bob Gill died at age 39. Bob had been Gill’s musical mentor, teaching him to play guitar as a child and nurturing his love of country music. The two brothers had played in bands together and were very close.
When Bob passed away unexpectedly, Gill was grief-stricken. At his brother’s funeral, he recalled seeing Bob’s young son weeping over the casket. This image stuck with Gill and inspired the song’s opening line “I know your life on earth was troubled, and only you could know the pain.” Gill felt the need to write something to honor his brother’s memory and provide comfort to his grieving family.
The song’s majestic title phrase “go rest high on that mountain” is a reference to Gill’s home state of Oklahoma. It evokes an image of being close to heaven and finding peaceful rest at life’s end. By imagining his late brother laid to rest on a mountain peak, Gill expressed hope that Bob had found freedom from his earthly troubles.
What is the meaning and theme of the lyrics?
Go Rest High on That Mountain is a powerful message of love, loss, grief, and hope. The song reflects on the sorrow of losing someone close coupled with the faith that they are in a better place.
The main theme touches on the circle of life – though gone from this world, a loved one’s spirit lives on in memory and in the great beyond. The lyrical imagery offers consolation, with verses like:
Oh, how we cried the day you left us
And gathered round your grave to grieve
Wish I could see the angels’ faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing
While deeply sad, the song also expresses gratitude for the time spent with the deceased loved one:
I know your life on earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren’t afraid to face the devil
You were no stranger to the rain
The choruses urge the departed to find peace in the afterlife, assured that though absent they are still cherished:
So go rest high on that mountain
‘Cause your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a-shoutin’
Love for the Father and the Son
By the end, the song comes full circle to acceptance and hope that the loved one is in a better place. The lyrics offer comfort to anyone grieving a personal loss.
Why did it become so popular and well-loved?
Go Rest High on That Mountain struck a chord with country music listeners and beyond for several reasons:
- Gill’s raw, emotional vocal performance – His vulnerable, melancholic vocals convey the sincerity of the mournful lyrics.
- Relatable universal theme – The song explores grief and loss in a poetic way that resonated with many.
- Personal inspiration – Fans connected to the tragic real-life genesis of Gill’s tribute to his brother.
- Memorable melody and lyrics – The sweeping chorus and visual lyrics are hauntingly beautiful.
- Critical acclaim – The song won a Grammy and CMA awards, cementing its iconic status.
- Crossover mainstream appeal – Its message transcended country music demographics.
- Timing of release – It arrived at a point when Gill’s fame was growing.
The compelling backstory, sincere delivery, and cathartic nature of the song made it an instant classic. It continues to hold meaning for those dealing with loss of a loved one.
How has the song been used at significant memorials and tributes?
Given its elegiac lyrics, Go Rest High on That Mountain has been incorporated into many major memorial services over the years. Some significant performances include:
- Funeral services for country singer Keith Whitley in 1989 and musician Chet Atkins in 2001
- The Grand Ole Opry televised memorial concert for 2015 flood victims in Tennessee
- Vince Gill performing the song at the funeral for George Jones in 2013
- Whitney Houston’s memorial service in 2012
- Steve Jobs’ 2011 memorial service at Apple Headquarters
- The Oscar’s “In Memoriam” segment honoring deceased stars
The touching song choice in these moments celebrated lives lost while offering comfort and hope. Gill himself has remarked that these tributes are the most meaningful to him when fans share stories of the song resonating through their own personal losses.
What are some key facts about the song and its legacy?
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release Date | August 30, 1994 |
| Artist | Vince Gill |
| Album | When Love Finds You |
| Writers | Vince Gill, Bill Anderson |
| Length | 4 minutes 4 seconds |
| Genre | Country, folk |
| Awards | 1995 Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance 1995 CMA Single of the Year |
Some key facts and notes about Gill’s enduring hit:
– It was co-written with country legend Bill Anderson, who helped Gill refine the lyrics.
– Spent 21 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart.
– Title thought to be inspired by Tom Petty’s song “Into the Great Wide Open.”
– Ranked among top country songs of all time by various lists & critics.
– Gill’s signature song that became a crossover pop hit.
– Remains a popular funeral song and has been included on numerous compilation albums.
– Joined the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018, cementing its iconic status.
– Has lived on through covers by Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Chesney, and Brad Paisley.
The song’s continued impact & emotional resonance affirm its status as a poignant country classic.
How did the song help propel Vince Gill to greater success?
Prior to Go Rest High on That Mountain, Vince Gill was already an established country star with multiple hit albums and awards. But the crossover success of this signature ballad helped elevate him to new heights of mainstream popularity.
Some ways the song boosted Gill’s career:
- Brought him to wider audiences beyond just country fans
- Earned him critical acclaim including CMA Single of the Year and a Grammy
- Affirmed his versatility as both a singer and songwriter
- Cemented his status as one of country’s modern legends
- Became his most requested live performance song
- Introduced fans to his thoughtful, introspective musical style
- Demonstrated his artistic depth beyond upbeat honky tonk hits
- Proved crossover appeal that opened up opportunities like working on film soundtracks
The poignant song showcased Gill’s multifaceted talent and revealed a more serious side beyond just his country roots. This likely earned Gill new listeners who connected personally with the heavy emotional essence of the composition. Overall, Go Rest High on That Mountain was a career-defining hit that boosted Vince Gill into the upper echelon of American recording artists.
How has the meaning or significance changed over the years?
In the nearly 30 years since its release, Go Rest High on That Mountain has remained a grief-stricken but hopeful ode to lost loved ones. While the core sentiment has stayed relevant, some aspects of meaning and significance have evolved:
- It is now appreciated as a classic country music standard versus just a popular 90s hit
- Younger generations continue to discover it, often through memorial tributes
- Covers and references in pop culture have introduced it to wider, younger demographics
- Advancing age and life experience may allow some listeners to connect more deeply than before
- Passing of Vince Gill’s brother Bob (+ over 20 years now) provides perspective on grief over time
- It’s viewed with some nostalgia for 1990s-era Vince Gill and country music
- The rawness of the grief may have softened a bit into reverence for departed loved ones
While still invoking profound sadness, nowadays the song may evoke warm reminiscence as much as fresh anguish. For devoted Gill fans, it carries added nostalgic weight. But most importantly, the ode to treasuring memories of lost loved ones remains universally relatable.
How did later live performances or cover versions alter perception of the song?
As an instant classic, Go Rest High on That Mountain has been performed widely over the decades. Both Gill’s evolving live renditions and other artists’ covers have influenced how the song is perceived.
Key performances that shaped understanding include:
- Gill’s emotional performance at George Jones’ 2013 funeral
- Whitney Houston’s posthumous 2012 tribute at her memorial service
- Kelly Clarkson’s soaring, soulful cover on American Idol in 2007
- Dolly Parton’s sweet, stripped down version on tribute albums and concerts
- Gill’s annual heartfelt performances at the CMA Awards
These impactful versions:
- Reaffirmed the song’s universal appeal across genres
- Renewed attention and visibility over time, exposing new generations
- Added new melodic interpretations while retaining the poignant lyrics
- Let Vince Gill revisit the song later in life with evolved perspective
- Elevated it to a treasured country classic on par with spiritual hymns
The multitude of covers and tributes have ensured the song remains relevant while offering fresh stylistic perspectives. But its essential message continues to reverberate profoundly.
How does the song resonate differently with listeners today versus upon its debut?
When Go Rest High on That Mountain first came out in 1994, it represented a strikingly vulnerable musical statement from a then-rising country star. Decades later, the song carries wider resonance due to:
- Vince Gill’s elevated stature – he’s now a revered country legend
- Accumulation of loss – many fans have suffered their own losses over time
- Nostalgia – it stirs sentimental memories of 90s country music period
- Shared cultural grief – from high profile memorials and tributes
- Idealized memory of loved ones – softened by time passed since their deaths
- Universally human themes – remaining relevant across generations
- Appreciation as country folk art – compared to initial pop culture buzz
Originally a raw confessional of Gill’s grief, over time the song has become almost spiritual solace for listeners dealing with their own losses. While still evoking profound sadness, it exerts an almost hymn-like power of communal catharsis and nostalgia. The song’s persisting significance is a testament to emotive power of both music and memory.
Conclusion
Over a quarter century since its release, Vince Gill’s Go Rest High on That Mountain remains one of the most cherished songs in country music history. Its poignant lyrics of love and loss articulated universal grief over death of a loved one. As an emotional tribute inspired by Gill’s own brother, it tapped into a melancholy yet hopeful sentiment that still resonates today. While touching hearts with its vulnerability in the 1990s, it has evolved into a spiritual folk anthem. Through countless meaningful memorial tributes and covers, the song’s raw potency endures across generations. Few recordings encapsulate grief, hope, nostalgia and the eternal power of music in such a stirring, relatable way. Vince Gill’s signature ode continues to offer solace and remind us that the memory of those we hold dear lives on long after they go to rest high on that mountain.