The Death of Floyd Collins
Formats: Digital Release
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Spatial Audio files can be played the same as you would any standard stereo file. For the best immersive experience, listen on headphones or earbuds.

$2.29
The Death of Floyd Collins is a poignant folk ballad that tells the tragic story of Floyd Collins, a Kentucky cave explorer who became trapped in Sand Cave in 1925. Floyd’s plight captured the nation’s attention for over two weeks as rescuers fought valiantly to save him while reporters and radio broadcasters brought live updates to an anxious public. This emotional song captures the bravery and determination of the rescuers and the heartbreak of his final days.
Available for download in MP3 format and Dolby Atmos, this haunting ballad brings history to life through its heartfelt lyrics and evocative melody, providing an immersive listening experience.
Scroll Down for to view Videos, Lyrics & Credits
About Floyd Collins
On January 30, 1925, Kentucky cave explorer Floyd Collins ventured into Sand Cave during the height of the Kentucky Cave Wars. This was a time of fierce competition among local cave owners striving to attract tourists visiting nearby Mammoth Cave. Although Floyd and his family owned Great Crystal Cave, it was too far from the main tourist routes, leaving him determined to find a new cave closer to the road to boost his commercial success.
Tragically, while working to enlarge a tight passage 55 feet underground, a 26.5-pound rock fell, pinning his leg and trapping him inside Sand Cave. What followed was one of the most dramatic rescue attempts in history. His story captivated the nation for 2 weeks, as rescue efforts, broadcast live on radio, became one of the first major news events of the era. Despite their heroic efforts, Floyd could not be freed in time.
Today Floyd Collins has become a legend—his bravery and determination are immortalized in caving history. His story has been memorialized in numerous books such as “Trapped” and “The Caves Beyond” and has even inspired a Broadway musical.
“The Death Of Floyd Collins” – The Song
“The Death of Floyd Collins” is a traditional American folk song written by Rev. Andrew Jenkins and Mrs. Irene Spain.that tells the tragic story of Floyd Collins. The emotional lyrics, which touch on themes of death, redemption, and the afterlife, were characteristic of many songs from this era. Just like many popular songs of the time, this ballad reflects the deeply rooted cultural connection to faith, with references to “getting right with the Lord”, especially in the face of tragic or life-threatening circumstances.
The original recording of “The Death of Floyd Collins” was released in 1925 by Vernon Dalhart, a popular country singer and one of the earliest pioneers of the genre. Dalhart, known for his million-selling records such as “The Wreck of the Old 97” paired with “The Prisoner’s Song,” made history again with “The Death of Floyd Collins.” The record sold over 300,000 copies, making it one of the best-selling records of its time.
Over the years, this ballad has been covered by various artists, with each version adding to its legacy as an important part of the folk tradition. The song continues to reflect the emotional depth of the tragedy and the resilience of both the rescuers and Collins himself, while also capturing the spiritual reflections of that time period.
Floyd’s story is especially close to my heart as I have worked for many years with the American Cave Conservation Association, a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting sensitive cave environments. Through this association, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing caves adorned with formations that have taken thousands of years to form. I’ve seen Native American artwork carved in mud that today still remains soft to the touch and watched from inside a cave as bats flew over my head into the night. Caves are truly wondrous places, and I can understand the fascination that Floyd had with them.
To mark the 100th anniversary of Floyd’s tragic journey, I’ve released my remake of this haunting ballad, produced and mixed in Dolby Atmos by Jeff Silverman, to bring this poignant story to life for a new generation.
I hope you enjoy my version and the video!
The Death of Floyd Collins
Written by: Rev. Andrew Jenkins & Mrs. Irene Spain
Verse 1:
Oh Floyd, cried his mother, don’t go my son don’t go
‘Twould leave us broken-hearted if this should happen so
Verse 2:
Oh, come all you young people and listen while I tell
The fate of Floyd Collins, a lad we all knew well
His face was fair and handsome
His heart was true and brave
His body now lies sleeping in a lonely sandstone cave
Verse 3:
How sad, how sad the story, it fills our eyes with tears
The memory too, will linger for many, many years
A brokenhearted father, who tried his boy to save
Will now weep tears of sorrow at the door of Floyd’s cave
Verse 4:
Oh, mother, don’t you worry; dear father, don’t be sad
I’ll tell you all my story in an awful dream I had
I dreamed I was a prisoner, my life I could not save
I cried, “Oh, must I perish within this silent cave?”
Verse 5:
The rescue party labored, they worked both night and day
To move the mighty barrier that stood within the way
To rescue Floyd Collins, this was their battle cry
“We’ll never, no, we’ll never let Floyd Collins die”
Verse 6:
But on that fatal morning, the sun rose in the sky
The workers still were busy, we’ll save him by and by
But, oh, how sad the ending, his life could not be saved
His body then was sleeping in the lonely sandstone cave
Verse 7:
Young people, oh, take warning from Floyd Collins’ fate
And get right with your Maker before it is too late
It may not be a sand cave in which we find our tomb
But at the bar of judgement, we, too, must meet our doom
Meet our doom … me or you
Meet our doom …
Produced, Arranged, Engineered, Mixed & Mastered* in Dolby Atmos 7.1.4/Spatial Audio by:
Jeff Silverman at Palette Music • Studio • Productions (MSP)
Mount Juliet / Nashville, TN
www.palettemusic.com
www.VirtualStudioNetworks.com
*Jeff Silverman/Palette Studio is a Certified Apple Digital Masters Mastering House, Approved by Apple, Inc.
MUSICIANS:
Lead & Background Vocals – Debra Lyn
Bass, Percussion – Jeff Silverman – www.palettemusic.com
Acoustic Guitars, Dobro, Banjo – David Flint – David Flint (Facebook)
Harmonica – TJ Klay – www.tjklay.com
Pipe Organ – Paul Rucker – www.musicscapes.net
VIDEO PRODUCTION / GRAPHIC DESIGN:
DLS Graphics (AKA Debra Lyn): www.dlsgraphics.net
Filmed on location at Sand Cave, Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky and Hidden River Cave, Horse Cave, Kentucky
Additional Footage:
Matthias Groeneveld/Pixabay (man walking)
Kelly/Pexels (digging)
Photo of Floyd Collins by: Wade Highbaugh
NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS:
Cave-In Pins Man Supine In Cavern: The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) · Sun, Feb 1, 1925 page 1: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-floyd-collins-trappe/25528520/
Gravel Pours In On Entombed Explorer: The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]), 02 Feb. 1925. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015313/1925-02-02/ed-1/seq-1/>
All Hope Of Rescuing Collins Is Abandoned: Seward daily gateway. [volume] (Seward, Alaska), 05 Feb. 1925. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062169/1925-02-05/ed-1/seq-1/>
Rescuers Near Collins: The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]), 11 Feb. 1925. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1925-02-11/ed-1/seq-1/>
Nearing Collins; Dead or Alive: The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska), 12 Feb. 1925. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020657/1925-02-12/ed-1/seq-1/>
Collins May Be Out By Dawn: The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) · Wed, Feb 11, 1925 · Page 1: https://www.newspapers.com/image/107064129
Finding of Collins Due Any Minute Now and Rescuers Crashing In Wall Of Cavern Trapping Collins: The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]), 16 Feb. 1925. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1925-02-16/ed-1/seq-1/>
Rescuers Find Floyd Collins Dead: The Cordele dispatch and daily sentinel. [volume] (Cordele, Georgia), 16 Feb. 1925. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/2022239691/1925-02-16/ed-1/seq-1/>
Collins Dead When Workers Reach Tomb: Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.), 17 Feb. 1925. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014248/1925-02-17/ed-1/seq-1/>
Images of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Collins and Mr. Lee Collins: https://www.newspapers.com/image/239441259
The Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, Wisconsin) · Tue, Feb 17, 1925 · Page 11