Ralph Stanley, a bluegrass pioneer known for his haunting voice and clawhammer banjo, rose to fame with the Stanley Brothers and The Clinch Mountain Boys.
His Appalachian style earned him a Grammy and the National Medal of Arts.
Jen Titus, though not a mainstream artist, gained attention for her chilling version of the folk hymn O Death.
Her dark, emotional performance echoes Stanley’s legacy.
Both versions of O Death offer a distinctive vibe—Stanley’s raw and traditional, Titus’s eerie and hauntingly cinematic. Both artists have the timeless, haunting spirit of American folk music.
O Death by Ralph Stanley
O Death is a haunting, a cappella plea between a soul and Death. Stanley’s raw, trembling vocals highlight themes of mortality, humility, and redemption.
Rooted in Appalachian tradition, the song feels like a sincere, personal conversation with the inevitable.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Released | 5 December, 2000 |
| Album | O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Music from the Motion Picture) |
| Writer | Lloyd Chandler |
| Producer | T Bone Burnett |
Read the Lyrics of O Death by Ralph Stanley
Chorus
Oh, Death
Whoa, Death
Won’t you spare me over till another year?
Verse 1
Well, what is this, that I can’t see?
With ice-cold hands taking hold of me
Well, I am Death, none can excel
I’ll open the door to Heaven or Hell
Verse 2
“Oh, Death,” someone would pray
“Could you wait to call me another day?”
The children prayed, the preacher preached
Time and mercy is out of your reach
Verse 3
I’ll fix your feet till you can’t walk
I’ll lock your jaw till you can’t talk
I’ll close your eyes so you can’t see
This very hour, come and go with me
Verse 4
Death, I come to take the soul
Leave the body and leave it cold
To drop the flesh off of the frame
The earth and worms both have a claim
Chorus
Oh, Death
Whoa, Death
Won’t you spare me over till another year?
Verse 5
My mother came to my bed
Placed a cold towel upon my head
My head is warm, my feet are cold
Death is a-moving upon my soul
Verse 6
Oh, Death, how you’re treating me
You closed my eyes so I can’t see
Well, you’re hurting my body, you make me cold
You run my life right out of my soul
Verse 7
Oh, Death, please consider my age
Please don’t take me at this stage
My wealth is all at your command
If you will move your icy hands
Verse 8
Oh, the young, the rich, or poor
All alike, me, you know
No wealth, no land, no silver, no gold
Nothing satisfies me but your soul
Chorus
Oh, Death
Whoa, Death
Won’t you spare me over till another year
Outro
Won’t you spare me over till another year
Won’t you spare me over till another year
O Death by Jen Titus
Jen Titus’s version of O Death, featured in Supernatural, is a haunting, modern take on the traditional folk hymn.
With ghostly vocals and minimal, atmospheric production, it changes the song into a chilling, cinematic experience that powerfully conveys themes of mortality and fear.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Released | 2010 |
| Album | N/A |
| Writer | Traditional |
| Producer | Eric Kripke |
Complete Lyrics of O Death by Jen Titus
Oh, Death
Oh, Death
Oh, Death
Won’t you spare me over another year?
But what is this that I can’t see
With ice cold hands taking hold of me?
When God is gone and the Devil takes hold
Who will have mercy on your soul?
Oh, Death
Oh, Death
Oh, Death
Oh, Death
No wealth, no ruin, no silver, no gold
Nothing satisfies me but your soul
Oh, Death
Well I am Death, none can excel
I’ll open the door to heaven or hell
Oh, Death
Oh, Death
My name is Death and the end is here…
Similar Songs Like O Death
These songs show the same emotional richness, spiritual weight, and haunting tone found in O Death, with the themes of faith, mortality, and the afterlife:
- Rank Stranger: This ballad shows the spiritual loneliness as Stanley returns home to unfamiliar faces, expressing loss, longing, and hope for reunion in life or beyond.
- I Am the Man, Thomas: With its biblical storytelling and plaintive delivery, this track feels adoring. It shows faith, sacrifice, and redemption.
- Angel Band: A gentle farewell to life, this song is filled with peace and grace. Stanley’s version brings a soft tone, expressing acceptance of death and hope for a beautiful afterlife.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Genre does this Song Belong to?
The song belongs to traditional folk, bluegrass, and Appalachian music genres, representing authentic American mountain music and spiritual traditions.
Has Jen Titus Released Other Music?
There’s little public record of other major music releases by Jen Titus, making her version of O Death her most well-known work.
Is O Death Considered a Religious Song?
While not strictly a hymn, O Death contains strong spiritual and religious themes, reflecting on the soul’s fate after death and the importance of living a righteous life
