Will the Circle Be Unbroken?

There are loved ones in the glory^[2]

Whose dear forms you often miss.

When you close your earthly story,

Will you join them in their bliss?

Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, by and by?

Is a better home awaiting

In the sky, in the sky?

In the joyous days of childhood

Oft they told of wondrous love

Pointed to the dying Saviour;

Now they dwell with Him above.

You remember songs of heaven

Which you sang with childish voice.

Do you love the hymns they taught you,

Or are songs of earth your choice?

You can picture happy gath'rings

Round the fireside long ago,

And you think of tearful partings

When they left you here below.

One by one their seats were emptied.

One by one they went away.

Now the family is parted.

Will it be complete one day?

The song is generally played to be uplifting to the congregation, and is a frequent standard in gospel revivals.

• In 1959, George Jones released a recording of the song on the Mercury album Country Church Time. (MG20462, LP, Mono, Black Label)
• In 1961, John Lee Hooker recorded a popular version of the song with a drum, bass and guitar band.
• In 1966, The Staple Singers did a recording on their album Why.
• In 1967, Bob Dylan and The Band recorded a version, released in 2014 on The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete.
• In 1971, Pentangle recorded a version included on their album Reflection.
• 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 1972, Shocking Blue recorded a version, released on their album Attila.
• In 1973, Gregg Allman included a version of the song on his first solo album Laid Back.
• In 1979, George Jones recorded the song as a duet with The Staples Singers for his LP My Very Special Guests.
• In 1989, The Neville Brothers included a version of the song on their Grammy-winning album Yellow Moon.
• In 1989, Spacemen 3 included a demo version of the song on their album Playing With Fire.
• In 1992, The Wonder Stuff included a version of the song on their EP Welcome to the Cheap Seats.
• In 2002, The Avett Brothers included a version of the song on their album Live at the Double Door Inn.
• In 2009, Richie Havens performed the song in the film Soundtrack for a Revolution.^[9]
• 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 2014, Tonstartssbandht played it as part of their medley during several of their tours including in Europe as documented on their Overseas album.
• In 2022, The Dead South released a version of the song for their album Easy Listening for Jerks Vol.1.

The Pointer Sisters and Nell Carter sing this song in an episode of Gimme a Break! titled "The Return of the Doo-Wop Girls" that originally aired on February 13, 1983.

Henry G. Sanders sang it in an episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman entitled "The Circle".

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]

June Carter's rendition of the song plays over the Deadwood season 1 episode 8 closing credits.

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]