One of America’s best-known gospel songs began in the mind of an Oklahoma farm boy working long rows in southeastern Oklahoma. In this episode of Red Dirt and Round Bales, Dave Deken tells the story of Albert E. Brumley, who grew up near Spiro surrounded by hard farm work, church music and the shape-note singing tradition. Brumley studied gospel composition in Arkansas, taught singing schools and wrote songs for publication, but an idea inspired in part by the feeling of wanting to escape a long day in the field stayed with him. In 1932, “I’ll Fly Away” appeared in print. Churches, quartets and country and bluegrass musicians carried it far beyond Oklahoma, turning a song born from fatigue, faith and imagination into a lasting expression of hope.