Vince Gill Grabs Hearts With Gorgeous Rendition Of “Go Rest High On That Mountain”

Jul 06, 2021 by apost team

When someone has the ability to sing, it's a talent that they'll have for their entire lives. However, as we age, our voices, just like our bodies, also change. Some genres of music are less suited to this change in our voices, for example, pop music, which favors a young and high-energy approach. It's also common in other genres, such as rock and rap, that there are fewer older artists making waves.

But one genre that seems to embrace the changes that happen as we get older is country music. Often, the artists who are older and whose voices have changed from earlier in their careers can sing incredibly moving and powerful country songs that truly tell a story. 

One artist that fits this description is country legend, Vince Gill. In fact, some might even think that Gill sounds better now than he did in his earlier years. Gill's voice is incredibly powerful, and whenever he sings and plays the guitar, it's sure to move you.

That's exactly what Gill did in his most recent performance, which was part of the National Memorial Day Concert in 2021. Aired on PBS on May 30, the show was made to honor those who have lost their lives in service to the United States. At the concert, Gill performed his ballad "Go Rest High on That Mountain," which is a song about loss. Gill's performance is an example where an older voice brings depth to the meaning of the song that a young artist can only hope for. Let's take a look.

From the start of the video, it's clear that this is going to be one moving performance. Filmed inside of what looks like a church, the stained glass windows in the background immediately conjure up strong emotions. Backlit by two spotlights, Vince Gill appears in the foreground, as he begins singing and strumming his guitar. 

He's singing his hit song "Go Rest High on That Mountain," which was released in 1995. The song's background is a solemn one. Gill began writing the track after the death of country music singer Keith Whitley in 1989. But for whatever reason, Gill didn't finish writing the song at that time. It wasn't until his older brother Bob died of a heart attack in 1993 that Gill felt the need to finish the song. 

After it was released, "Go Rest High on That Mountain" won the Country Music Association Awards' Song of the Year in 1996 and two Grammy Awards. The song has been hailed as "easily one of the best singles of Gill's already distinguished career" by Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine. She also stated that the composition "boasts a touching spiritual lyric and Gill's consistently impeccable vocal delivery."

Gill's impeccable vocal delivery was evident in this most recent performance. As he sings and plays the guitar, Gill puts on an emotional performance that is sure to pull at anyone's heartstrings. It's all the more poignant that Gill is now 64-years-old, as he probably relates even more to the sad subject matter than he did when he wrote it. 

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This new rendition of "Go Rest High on That Mountain" is even more meaningful as Gill performed it as part of the National Memorial Day Concert, which aired on PBS on May 30. Honoring the many lives lost in service to the nation, the video of the performance includes clips that add even more meaning to the song. Among shots of families at military services and fields of headstones, Gill's lyrics are just as fitting in this context as they are to when he originally wrote them. He sings:

"So go rest high on that mountain / Son, your work on earth is done / Go to heaven a-shoutin' / Love for the Father and the Son"

Of all people to perform such a moving song in honor of those that lost their lives, Gill was a perfect choice. Hailing from Oklahoma, he started his career in country music as part of a band known as Pure Prairie League. He later veered off to pursue personal interests as a solo artist in the '80s and then pursued a career in gospel country music.

Gill earned wide recognition that led to him winning various accolades including Grammy Awards, eighteen Country Music Association Awards and he also earned a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

It appears that country music even runs in his blood, as Gill revealed that his father, a judge by profession, also played country music part-time. At a young age, Gill learned how to play various musical instruments courtesy of his dad, who spotted the talent in Gill and helped him nurture his voice into undeniably one of the best in country music.

What did you think of Vince Gill's latest rendition of his hit song "Go Rest High on That Mountain?" If you were moved by his performance, pass it to your friends and family so they can enjoy it too.