X: 1
T: Wayfaring Stranger, The
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Emin
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z3EE2B2|"Am"z2A6-|A2E-E(3G2A2B2|"Em"B8|
zEE3EB2|"Em"z2B6-|B2G2A2G2|ED2E-E4|
z2E2EB2A-|"C"A8-|"D"A2G2-GE2D-|"Em"DE2-E4E|
z2B2B2d2|"C"z2e6-|e2e2d2B2|"G"BAGG-G4|
z2G2G2B2|"C"B8-|B2G2(3G2A2B2-|"B7"B2BAB4|
z2E2E2B2|"Em"z2B6-|B2G2A2G2-|GE-EE-E4|
z2E2EB2A-|"C"A8-|"D"A2G2-GE2D-|"Em"DE2-E4E:|
The Wayfaring Stranger- Slow Air/Song
'The Wayfaring Stranger' as played by Jerry O'Sullivan, from his second CD 'The Gift'. This is a slow air, adapted from an Appalachian spiritual, sometimes called 'The Poor Wayfaring Stranger'. This might could be called one from the American Scots-Irish tradition. I've included the chords for setting. The words are as follows:
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world of woe,
But there's no sickness, toil or danger
In that bright land to which I go.
I'm going there to meet my mother,
Said she'll meet me when I come;
I'm only going over Jordan,
I'm only going home.
I know dark clouds will gather 'round me,
I know my way will be rough and steep,
But beautiful fields lie just before me,
Where God's redeemed their vigil keep.
I'm going there to meet my loved one's,
Gone on before me, one by one;
I'm only going over Jordan,
I'm only going home.
I'll soon be free of earthly trials,
My body rest in the old churchyard.
I'll drop this cross of self-denial;
And I'll go singing home to God.
I'm going there to meet my Savior,
Dwell with him and never roam;
I'm only going over Jordan,
I'm only going home.
Like many American/blues spirituals, it's a simple ABAB (verse-chorus) structure with a slight variation of the lyrics of the chorus part on each time through.
Enjoy!
# Posted on May 7th 2008 by mrkelahan
Waltz?
Is it just me, or should this be in 3/4?
# Posted on May 9th 2008 by smw
Waltz?
No, I just listened again and am pretty sure that it's in 4. Though I don't like the treatment given to 'Noel McCarthy's Jig' on this track, the change to jig-time is what really makes it 'take-off', the phrases being shorter in 3's than 4's. American stuff can be kind of confusing; the accompaniment on the slower numbers will sometimes do a 1-2-3- 1-2-3- 1-2 number that 'fakes' at a waltz and results in a more 'picture book' type mood.
# Posted on May 9th 2008 by mrkelahan