Marty Robbins – There’s Power in the Blood: A Joyous Proclamation of Faith and the Cleansing River of the Soul
In the long and winding career of Marty Robbins, where he often sang of the dusty trails and the moral gray areas of the Old West, there was a consistent, glowing thread of spiritual conviction that occasionally came to the forefront. Released in 1962 on his soulful gospel album What God Has Done, his rendition of the classic hymn “There’s Power in the Blood” is a vibrant explosion of traditional faith. While the album reached No. 10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, this track stands as a testament to Marty’s roots in the church, proving that the “Gentle Balladeer” could deliver a sermon just as effectively as he could spin a yarn about an outlaw.
For the reader who has lived through the many ebbs and flows of life, this song is like a homecoming. It evokes memories of small-town Sunday mornings, the smell of old hymnals, and the rhythmic clapping of a congregation in one accord. Marty Robbins, with that unmistakable, fluid tenor, brings a unique “swing” to this 19th-century standard. It is a song for those who understand that as we navigate the complexities of our later years, there is a profound, grounding strength to be found in the simple, bedrock truths of our upbringing.
The story behind the song is one of enduring spiritual resilience. Written in 1899 by Lewis E. Jones during a camp meeting at Mountain Lake Park, Maryland, the hymn was born out of a moment of intense inspiration. When Marty recorded it over sixty years later, he chose not to make it a somber, heavy dirge. Instead, he treated it as a celebration. In 1962, as the world felt increasingly uncertain, Marty’s voice provided a sense of unshakable certainty. He understood that the “power” he was singing about wasn’t a physical force, but a spiritual one—a cleansing of the heart that allows a person to start over, no matter how many miles are on their soul’s odometer.
The lyrical meaning of “There’s Power in the Blood” is centered on the concept of transformation. The repetitive, rhythmic question—“Would you be free from the burden of sin?”—serves as an invitation to let go of the weights we carry. For the mature listener, this takes on a deeper significance. It speaks to the desire for peace, for the “victory” over the regrets and the “stains” of the past. Marty’s delivery is incredibly bright; you can almost hear the smile in his voice as he navigates the high notes of the chorus. It reminds us that faith, at its best, is not a burden of rules, but a fountain of joy.
Musically, the track features the classic “country-gospel” arrangement of the early sixties. With a steady, upbeat tempo, a bright acoustic guitar, and the rich, swelling harmonies of a vocal quartet behind him, Marty creates a sound that is both humble and majestic. It is a song that invites you to tap your foot and lift your spirit simultaneously. To listen to this track today is to reconnect with a sense of hope that is both ancient and ever-new. Marty Robbins reminds us that no matter where the trail has led us, there is always a source of strength waiting to renew us for the journey ahead.