Wings of a Dove (Bob Ferguson song)

"Wings of a Dove"
"Wings of a Dove"
Single by Ferlin Husky
B-side	"Next to Jimmy"
Released	July 1960
Genre	Country
Length	2:18
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Bob Ferguson
Producer(s)	Ken Nelson
Ferlin Husky singles chronology

"Wings of a Dove' is a country song written by Bob Ferguson in 1958. "Wings of a Dove" was most popular when it was recorded by Ferlin Husky in 1960. The Ferlin Husky recording went to number one on the country charts for 10 nonconsecutive weeks.^[1] It was Ferlin Husky's third and final number one on the country chart, spending nine months on the chart. "Wings of a Dove" was successful on the pop charts, as well, peaking at number 12 on the Hot 100.^[2] In 1987, Broadcast Music Incorporated awarded Ferguson with the "million air" plays for the "Wings of a Dove".

The song alludes to several passages from the Christian Bible about doves sent by the Lord, including a verse about God sending Noah a dove during the flood in Genesis 8:6-12. Dolly Parton's and Porter Wagoner's cover versions^[3] include a verse not in the original,^[4] referring to another passage about a dove in Matthew 3:16 where "After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him."

Chart performance[]

Chart (1960–61)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot C&W Sides	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	12

Covers[]

The song has also been covered by many artists, including Bonnie Guitar, The Jordanaires, George Jones, Hal Ketchum, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Ricky Skaggs and the Whites, The Wilders, and Jim Witter, among others. Nanci Griffith and Lucinda Williams recorded a duet version of the song for Griffith's album Other Voices, Too (A Trip Back to Bountiful). Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, and Loretta Lynn covered the song on their 1993 album Honky Tonk Angels.

Bob Dylan quoted a lyric from it in his 2020 song "I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You" ("If I had the wings of a snow-white dove / I'd preach the gospel, the gospel of love").^[5]

Film[]

Robert Duvall sang the tune in the 1983 movie Tender Mercies. The movie's soundtrack included a version sung by Duvall and Gail Youngs.
A version of the song by Point of Grace appeared on the 2002 soundtrack of the movie Joshua.^[6]

References[]

^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 166.
^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 296.
^ "Cover versions of Wings of a Dove by Dolly Parton". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
^ "Wings Of A Dove lyrics - FERLIN HUSKY". Oldielyrics.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
^ "I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-05-01.
^ Most Popular Titles With Soundtracks Matching "Wings of a Dove", IMDb.com, accessed May 22, 2011

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[1] Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 166.

[2] Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 296.

[3] "Cover versions of Wings of a Dove by Dolly Parton". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.

[4] "Wings Of A Dove lyrics - FERLIN HUSKY". Oldielyrics.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.

[5] "I've Made Up My Mind to Give Myself to You | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2021-05-01.

[6] Most Popular Titles With Soundtracks Matching "Wings of a Dove", IMDb.com, accessed May 22, 2011

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show v t Ferlin Husky
Albums	Champagne Ladies and Blue Ribbon Babies
Singles	"A Dear John Letter" "Forgive Me, John" "Gone" "Country Music is Here to Stay" "Wings of a Dove"

show v t Charley Pride singles
Albums Singles
1960s	"Just Between You and Me" "I Know One" "Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger" "The Day the World Stood Still" "The Easy Part's Over" "Let the Chips Fall" "Kaw-Liga "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again" "Wings of a Dove"
1970s	"Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone" "Wonder Could I Live There Anymore" "I Can't Believe That You've Stopped Loving Me" "I'd Rather Love You" "Did You Think to Pray"/"Let Me Live" "Me and Bobby McGee" "I'm Just Me" "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" "All His Children" (with Henry Mancini) "It's Gonna Take a Little Bit Longer" "She's Too Good to Be True" "A Shoulder to Cry On" "Don't Fight the Feelings of Love" "Amazing Love" "We Could" "Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town" "Then Who Am I" "I Ain't All Bad" "Hope You're Feelin' Me (Like I'm Feelin' You)" "The Happiness of Having You" "My Eyes Can Only See as Far as You" "A Whole Lotta Things to Sing About" "She's Just an Old Love Turned Memory" "I'll Be Leaving Alone" "More to Me" "Someone Loves You Honey" "When I Stop Leaving (I'll Be Gone)" "Burgers and Fries" "Where Do I Put Her Memory" "You're My Jamaica" "Missin' You"
1980s	"Honky Tonk Blues" "You Win Again" "You Almost Slipped My Mind" "Roll On Mississippi" "Never Been So Loved (In All My Life)" "Mountain of Love" "I Don't Think She's in Love Anymore" "You're So Good When You're Bad" "Why Baby Why" "More and More" "Night Games" "Ev'ry Heart Should Have One" "The Power of Love" "Missin' Mississippi" "Down on the Farm" "Let a Little Love Come In" "Have I Got Some Blues for You" "If You Still Want a Fool Around" "Shouldn't It Be Easier Than This" "I'm Gonna Love Her on the Radio" "Amy's Eyes"
1990s	"Whole Lotta Love on the Line" "You've Got to Stand for Something"