“Going Over Home”
One of the best-known American spirituals, “Poor Wayfaring Stranger”
is a centuries-old song sung by a great Ozark Mountain balladeer,
and one of Alan Lomax’s most spectacular finds – Almeda Riddle.
I wanted to draw a connection between
traditional English folk song and African-American spirituals,
& found this western Delta performance to be a great recording to work with.
Source Recordings:
“Poor Wayfaring Stranger” Almeda Riddle
recorded by Alan Lomax in Miller, Arkansas – October, 1959 *
“One” Kat Eggleston
recorded by John Rice in Chicago, IL – 2009. **
Musicians:
Liz Carroll – fiddle
Orbert Davis – muted trumpet
Kat Eggleston – hammer dulcimer, acoustic guitar
Jim Gailloreto – saxes & clarinet
Steve Mullen – piano, prepared piano, synth, drum & mallet programming
John Rice – acoustic slide gtr, dobro & archtop guitar
Rob Stone – harmonica
Jeff Thomas – drums & percussion
John Williams – tin whistle
Strings:
Teresa Fream – violin
Mike Shelton – violin
Wendy Evans – violin
Ben Wedge – viola
Larry Glazier – cello
(string arrangement by Steve Mullen)
Group Vocals:
Cynthia Butts
Joan Collaso
Steve Mullen
Clara Smith
Herbert Walker
Sonja Whitmore
(vocal arrangement by Steve Mullen)
Lead Vocal: – Almeda Riddle
* “Going Over Home” contains elements from “Poor Wayfaring Stranger” performed by Almeda Riddle and recorded by Alan Lomax. used courtesy of the Alan Lomax Archive, under license from Odyssey Productions, Inc.
** “One” is performed by “Kat Eggleston” under license from Kat Eggleston.
“Going Over Home”
(lyrics)
I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger
I’m traveling through a 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
She said she’d meet me when I come
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home
going over Jordan, going over home
going over Jordan, going over home
going over home
I know dark clouds are gonna gather around me
(dark clouds gonna gather round me, dark clouds)
I know my way’ll be rough & steep
(dark clouds gonna gather round me, dark clouds)
but beautiful fields lie just before me
where God’s redeemed their vigil keep
I’m going there to see my loved ones
Gone on before me one by one
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home
I’ll soon be free from earthly trials
This body rests in the old church yard
I’ll drop this cross of self-denial
and I’ll go singing home to God
I’m going there to see my savior
I’ll dwell with him and I’ll never roam
Oh, I’m just going over Jordan
I’m only going over home
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home
