O, Death

"O, Death" is an Appalachian folk song usually attributed to Baptist Preacher and folk musician Lloyd Chandler. Chandler was a travelling preacher, active around the south, who claimed to have written the song in 1916 after having a terrifying vision after a period of sinning. This vision was a conversation between a sinner and deathThe lyrics were written very early and sometimes the song is referred to as "A Conversation with Death" or simply "Lloyd's Song." The lyrics of the song are similar to a "negro spiritual" recorded in 1908 as well as an older Irish song called "A Dialogue Between Death and a Sinner" from the late 1800s. This song has been covered numerous times by famous artist, but this version is by Dock Boggs. Painting is "The Race Track (Death on a Pale Horse)" by Albert Pinkham Ryder