"Wings of a Dove" | ||||
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Single by Ferlin Husky | ||||
B-side | "Next to Jimmy" | |||
Released | July 1960 | |||
Recorded | May 24, 1960 | |||
Studio | Bradley Studios, Nashville, Tennessee | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:18 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Songwriter(s) | Bob Ferguson | |||
Producer(s) | Ken Nelson | |||
Ferlin Husky singles chronology | ||||
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"Wings of a Dove' is a country song written by Bob Ferguson in 1958. It was popularized when it was recorded by Ferlin Husky in 1960. His recording topped the country charts for 10 nonconsecutive weeks.[1] It was Ferlin Husky's third and final number 1 on the country chart, spending nine months on it. "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 a passage from the Bible about God sending Noah a dove during the flood in Genesis 8:6-12. The title is inspired from Psalms 55:7 ("wings like a dove"). 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."