A Poor Wayfaring Stranger

"This ancient style of singing religious music involves a leader chanting each line of text prior to its singing in unison by a congregation lacking hymnals or psalters. This style was used in some British churches in the 1700s and before and was brought to North America by colonists. The New England singing school movement was in part an effort to "improve" upon this style of singing. This chapter is limited to resources available in the U.S."

http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~mudws/resource/chap13.html

A Poor Wayfaring Stranger

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Wandering through this world of woe
But there's no sickness, no toil, no danger
In that bright land to which I go

I'm goin' home
To see my Father
I'm goin' home
No more to roam

I'm only going over Jordan
I'm just a going over home

I know dark clouds
will gather 'round me
I know my way
is rough and steep

But beauteous fields
lie just before me
Where them redeemed
Their vigils keep

I'm goin' home
to see my Mother
She said she'd meet me
When I come

I'm just a goin' over Jordan
I'm just a goin' over home

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Wandering through this world of woe
And there's no sickness, toil or danger
In that bright land to which I go

I'm going home so see my saviour
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm just a goin' over Jordan
I'm just a goin' over home

I'm just a goin' over Jordan
I'm just a goin' over home

Category:

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Tags:

• poor wayfaring stranger
• lined out hymns
• old regular baptist
• strict baptist
• particular baptist
• calvinist
• calvinism
• spiritual
• folk song
• devotional

[pickingmybajno]

This type of singing is called "line singing". It is very common in Old Regular (hard shell) and Primitive Baptist to hear line singing in their churches, for they do not allow musical instruments in there church. This form of singing was formed because back in those days most people in the congregation could not read. One person who could read would recite a "line" of lyrics and the congregation would repeat the song leader.

P.S. This is most defiantly not Dr. Ralph Stanley.

[oldsoulify]

@pickingmybajno I don't know how accurate this statement is, "This form of singing was formed because back in those days most people in the congregation could not read." Do you have a source for that? It is my understanding that most folks could read their Bibles, and many would even attend Shape Note singing schools at around that same time. I don't believe your statement is correct, I could be wrong, but I'd like to see a source posted for your info.

[oldsoulify]

@pickingmybanjo It is more likely the congregations had one or only a few hymnals to read from. The leader would sing the first verse and the others would repeat it.

[relilly007]

i dont know where it was recorded, but i think it might be Ralph Stanley on lead vocals.

[oldsoulify]

@relilly007 Sorry folks for not posting the source. This song was found on the Indian Bottom Association Of The Old Regular Baptist Church website. You can google for more tunes.  I asked permission before using. It does sound a lot like Stanley.

[hazardwithlove]

This most definitely is Ralph Stanley on lead vocals. I was born in Hazard, Ky and spent many childhood days in and around that area. Perry County and Leslie County. Bluegrass Gospel is etched in my soul.

[aarond53]

I first heard this sung by Andreas Scholl in a more classical arrangement. I didn't even realize it was a spiritual. His is beautiful, this is beautiful! Great music. I love discovering music that sounds so amazing in very different styles.

[pickingmybajno]

@TheDuckii318 Your research is from 1 church. My resource came from several churches that my parents and grandparents grew up in while in the hills of Kentucky and West Virginia. Who all say it was because most of the people in the congregation could not read very well. Although your statement about not having very many hymnals is true, mine is as well ;)

P.S. The basic foundation of line singing actually originated from Gaelic Psalm singing from the Scottish Highlands.

[pickingmybajno]

I apologize for the broadness of my statement about line singing. I realize my statement, "This form of singing was formed because back in those days most people in the congregation could not read." was too broad of a statement and that some old regular and primitive baptist churches in those days could read. How ever, this statement is true in which the churches my family grew up in, in KY and WV. I should have explained this when commenting on the video and apologize.

[TheDuckii318]

@pickingmybajno no sir it was not because most of the congregation could not read... it was more common to only have one songbook in the entire church... i have done my research... my source is the history of the salem primitive baptist church in texas

[lampton88]

fabulous ! i'm onboard.

[jskavanagh1]

I doubt it was Stanely he is Primitive Baptist(Absoluter) not Old Regular, but both do sound pretty similar