The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Go down yonder Gabriel
Put your foot on the land and sea
Now blow your trumpet boy until you hear from me
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
When you hear that trumpet sound
Gonna get up out of the ground
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
Looked over Jordan, what did I see?
A band of angels coming after me
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
When you hear that trumpet sound
Gonna get up out of the ground
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
Meet me Jesus meet me
Meet me in the middle of the air
If these wings fail me, meet me with another pair
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
When you hear that trumpet sound
Gonna get up out of the ground
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
Put your foot on the land and sea
Now blow your trumpet boy until you hear from me
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
When you hear that trumpet sound
Gonna get up out of the ground
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
Looked over Jordan, what did I see?
A band of angels coming after me
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
When you hear that trumpet sound
Gonna get up out of the ground
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
Meet me Jesus meet me
Meet me in the middle of the air
If these wings fail me, meet me with another pair
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
When you hear that trumpet sound
Gonna get up out of the ground
There ain't no grave gonna hold my body down
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down Lyrics as written by Simon Shackleton Mark Pember
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
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I am 66 years old and am a member of a denomination that sings this song. I have heard this song all my life. It is about the rapture of the church. And it was originally written by an old country preacher named Claude Ely. He wrote the song, not the people you have listed as writing it. The chorus which you have left out goes..Ain't no grave gonna hold my body down, there ain't no grave gonna hold my body down...when I hear that trumpet sound, gonna get up outta that ground, there ain't no grave gonna hold my body down. 3rd line of first verse goes Gabriel don't blow that trumpet until you hear from me.And it's when I, (not you), hear that trumpet sound and second verse it's I see a band of angels...3rd verse it's If these wings should fail me, won't need another pair.
ok, I got a few of the lyrics confused but go here and you will hear brother Claude Ely sing it...it's his song and someone has stolen it. Of course he never thought it would be this successful and didn't have it copyrighted. So here's the proof. youtube.com/watch
Sorry the link I gave you doesn't work but all you have to do is go to YouTube and put in Brother Claude Ely and you can hear him sing HIS song.