Wayfaring Stranger (song)

"The Wayfaring Stranger" (aka "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" or "I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger"), Roud 3339, is a well-known American spiritual/folk song likely originating in the early 19th century about a plaintive soul on the journey through life. As with most folk songs, many variations of the lyrics exist.

Use
It became one of Burl Ives's signature songs, included on his 1944 album The Wayfaring Stranger. Ives used it as the title of his early 1940s CBS radio show and his 1948 autobiography. He became known as "The Wayfaring Stranger".

The New Christy Minstrels recorded their song "The Ballad of Julie Ann" to this tune.

In classical music
Ernő Dohnányi used the tune (along with two other traditional American folktunes) in his final composition American Rhapsody (1953). In addition, George Crumb used the tune with lyrics in Unto the Hills (2001), for soprano, piano, and percussion quartet.

I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger

I'm traveling through this world of woe

Yet there's no sickness, toil nor danger

In that bright land to which I go

I'm going there to see my mother/father

I'm going there no more to roam

I'm only going over Jordan

I'm only going over home

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me

I know my way is rough and steep

Yet golden fields lie just before me

Where God's redeemed shall ever sleep

I'm going there to see my father/mother

S/he said he'd/she'd meet me when I come

I'm only going over Jordan

I'm only going over home

I want to wear a crown of glory

When I get home to that good land

I want to shout salvation's story

In concert with the blood-washed band

I'm going there to meet my Saviour

To sing his praise forever more

I'm just a-going over Jordan

I'm just a-going over home

Appearance in media

 * The song was used in the motion picture Cold Mountain, performed by Jack White.
 * The song was used in the US television show "Then Came Bronson" in 1969.
 * The song was used in the German feature film Romeos from 2011, lip-synched by drag queen Cassy Carrington to a recording by Andreas Scholl.
 * In the 1993-1996 edition of the educational PC game The Oregon Trail, this song was the music played when the player's wagon party reached Independence Rock in Wyoming.
 * The song was used in the 2012 Documentary film "The Imposter".
 * The song was also sung in the motion picture How The West Was Won from 1963
 * the song was sung in the Belgian feature film The Broken Circle Breakdown from 2012