The song is generally played to be uplifting to the congregation, and is a frequent standard in gospel revivals.
Other versions
Tune variants
The Ballad Index[3] notes that the tune now commonly sung differs substantially from the original tune by Gabriel. It also notes the first known recording of this variant, by the Metropolitan Quartet in 1927.
A reworked version of the song, intended as a funeral hymn, was written by
A. P. Carter and released in 1935 by the
Carter Family. The Carter version, titled "
Can the Circle be Unbroken", uses the same music and the same verse structure but with different verse lyrics and a modified chorus. That version has often been recorded as "Will the Circle be Unbroken", including the 1972 performance by
Mother Maybelle Carter and ensemble on the
Nitty Gritty Dirt Bandalbum of the same title.
The original version of the song does not insert "Lord" in lines 2 and 4 of the chorus,[2] though the Carter version does. Also, the third line of the chorus is phrased as a question in the original, but as a declarative sentence in the Carter version, and the Carter version as written begins the chorus with 'Can' instead of 'Will'.
Inasmuch as the changes constitute substantial transformation and an original creative work, the Carter version is still under copyright.
In 1970, the music group
The Doors performed an impromptu version live in Chicago, with vocalist
Jim Morrison changing the lyrics to "oh, the circle has been broken, me oh my Lord, me oh my."[5]
In 1988,
Spacemen 3 released a version of the song titled "May The Circle Be Unbroken" as one of the B-sides on their single "Revolution". Aside from the change in the titular line, it is lyrically identical to the Carter Family version.[6]
In 1971,
Agnes Chan recorded a version included on her debut album Will the Circle Game be Unbroken.
In 1971,
Leon Russell opened his Homewood sessions recording with the song as the musicians were entering the set.
The Canadian gospel rock group
Ocean released a version of the song as the
B-side to their 1971 single, "We Got a Dream" and their 1972 single, "
One More Chance".
In 1972,
The Youngbloods released a version of the song as the
B-side to their single, "Light Shine".[8]
In 2014, Scottish singer
Susan Boyle recorded a version as one of her tracks for her sixth studio album, Hope.[10]
in 2014, Scottish singer and ex-
Mànran front man
Norrie MacIver (also of
Skipinnish) included the song, as well as a cover in Scottish Gaelic titled "Am bi an Cearcall seo gun Bhristeadh", on his debut solo album, Danns an Rathaid.[11]
In 2022,
The Dead South released a version of the song for their album Easy Listening for Jerks Vol.1
The song in its reworked version, "Can the Circle Be Unbroken," appeared in the 2004 film Iron Jawed Angels, although the film's website shows the original song as the title.[12]
In the film 2012, the song can be heard on the family's way to Yellowstone Park.
In 2012, Belgian film The Broken Circle Breakdown (also known as Alabama Monroe) used the song on its soundtrack.
In 2016, Canadian circus "
Cirque Éloize" used the song on its show "Saloon".
The song is covered in Treme season 2 episode 10, "That's What Lovers Do", at Harley's memorial service.
A season 3 episode of Pretty Little Liars was titled after the hymn and featured the song within the episode.
The hymn is sung every year at the
Country Music Hall of Fame, at the conclusion of each medallion induction ceremony. It is performed by the inductees of that respective year as well as any previously inducted members of the Hall of Fame who are present.
Two versions of the hymn are featured in the soundtrack for the 2013 video game BioShock Infinite: a traditional choir version, performed by Maureen Murphy, and an award-winning acoustic version performed by
Troy Baker (guitar) and
Courtnee Draper, the voice actors of main characters Booker DeWitt and
Elizabeth, respectively. The use of the original lyrics was controversial: some commentators, apparently unaware of the differences between the original and Carter versions, criticized the omission of "Lord" from the chorus as anti-religious censorship. The choice was explained as simply being consistent with the 1912 setting of the game, at which point the word "Lord" had not been added.[13][14] The song won "the Best Song in a Game" award during the
VGX 2013.[15] In March 2013,
the score for BioShock Infinite contained "Will the Circle Be Unbroken (Choral Version)" (2:56) on Track 3.
Senate candidate
Beto O'Rourke joined
Willie Nelson onstage to play and sing "Will the Circle be Unbroken?" among other numbers at Nelson's annual 4 July picnic, in 2018.[16]
^
abHabershon, Ada R., and Gabriel, Charles H. (1907) [2nd. Pub. 1910]. "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". In Alexander, Charles M. comp. Alexander's Gospel Songs No. 2. Fleming H. Revell Company, New York.
p. 33, song 28.