Gaither, The Martins & Vestal Goodman, Rock of Ages | Music Lifts

In the 21^st edition of Music Lifts (2026), we’re uplifted by Gaither, The Martins & Vestal Goodman performing “Rock of Ages.”

Welcome to Music Lifts, featuring songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 21^st edition of Music Lifts (2026), we highlight “Rock of Ages” as performed by Gaither, The Martins & Vestal Goodman.

Those lyrics appear in the opening stanza of the beloved hymn, “Rock of Ages”. “Rock of Ages” was composed by short-lived English hymnist and Anglican clergyman, Augustus Toplady (1740 – 1778). Toplady’s tour de force has been sung throughout churches worldwide; it is a standard. Gaither, led by Bill Gaither and Gloria Gaither, The Martins (Joyce Martin Sanders, Jonathan Martin, and Judy Martin Hess), and the late Vestal Goodman (1929 – 2003), recorded an awesome rendition of “Rock of Ages.” It appears as the fourth track on the 2001 live album, A Billy Graham Music Homecoming (Vol. 1/Live).

“Rock of Ages” begins with accompaniment featuring percussion and guitar. The choir performs the first verse reverently. Given the radiant performance, you feel the spirit as you listen to these timeless lyrics, with my favorite being, “Be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure.” After performing in the key of C major, it modulates to D-flat. The Martins take the reins, performing a modified version of the second stanza.  Their southern-gospel-tinged harmonies are chilling, while the synergy is nothing short of anointed.  Even with only a trio of people singing, it sounds like a full choir given the power of their pipes. For the third stanza, which is the fourth stanza of the song, the key changes once more, this time to F#/G-flat (the subdominant in C#/D-flat that preceded).  Leading the vocals is the one-and-only Vestal Goodman, a legendary, powerhouse southern gospel singer.  “While I draw my fleeting breath, for when mine eyes shall close in death,” she sings, and continues, “When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold Thee of the throne.” In the video of the live performance, Goodman’s sincere performance has Ricky Skaggs in tears. It’s understandable, because she brings something magical, and, of course, holy. Not only is Goodman’s tone divine, but the words in the final stanza are arguably the most powerful of the hymn. Fittingly, the final lyrics repeat the opening lyrics from the first verse: “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.” “Rock of Ages” in the hands of Gaither, The Martins, and Vestal Goodman is a once-in-a-lifetime performance.  This old hymn sounds fresh and as vibrant as ever in this unforgettable recording.

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Gaither » A Billy Graham Music Homecoming (Vol. 1/Live) » Spring House Music Group » 2001

Gaither, The Martins & Vestal Goodman, Rock of Ages: Music Lifts No. 21 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Spring House Music Group; Emma Bauso, foad shariyati, nappy, Niko Twisty, Victoria Strelka_ph, Wolrider YURTSEVEN from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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