Watch Shane Smith & The Saints Deliver a Moving Cover of Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High on That Mountain” During Their Ryman Debut

Shane Smith & The Saints have been on the road nearly nonstop for the last couple of years. Last November, they made their headlining debut at the Ryman Auditorium. Yesterday (October 17), they gave fans a taste of their headlining set at the Mother Church with their rendition of Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High on That Mountain.”

“This one hits deep and seemed like the perfect addition for our debut at the Mother Church,” the band wrote in the video’s description. We hope you enjoy our rendition of ‘Go Rest High on That Mountain’ by Vince Gill. Recorded live at the Ryman Auditorium on November 30, 2023,” they added. They made their rendition a little more powerful by inviting bassist Chase Satterwhite’s dad, Gary Satterwhite to play piano on the song. Watch the chill-inducing family affair below.

[RELATED: The Story Behind the Song Vince Gill Struggled to Sing at George Jones’ Funeral, “Go Rest High on That Mountain”]

Shane Smith & The Saints Cover Vince Gill’s Most Emotional Song

While Shane Smith & The Saints delivered a stellar cover of the Vince Gill classic, they’re far from the first to cover it. Since its release, the song has been a staple of funerals across the country. Written in mourning, the song is a perfect farewell for a loved one. Gill and Patty Loveless performed the song during George Jones’ funeral.

Gill started writing “Go Rest High on That Mountain” after country star Keith Whitley died in 1989. The lines I wish I could see the angels’ faces / When they hear your sweet voice sing likely come from that early writing session. However, Gill wouldn’t finish the song until a more personal loss rocked him. He lost his older brother Bob to a heart attack in 1993. The grief he felt pushed him to finish the song.

Gill released “Go Rest High on That Mountain” in 1995 as the sixth single from his 1994 album When Love Finds You. The studio version features Ricky Skaggs and Patty Loveless singing background vocals. While the track only peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, it became one of Gill’s signature songs.

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