Wayfaring Stranger - Chords, Lyrics and Origins
Origins
Wayfaring Stranger (also known as "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" or "I'm a Poor Wayfaring Stranger") has been notably recorded by Emmylou Harris, Burle Ives, Dusty Springfield, Eva Cassidy, Johhny Cash, Neil Young, Joan Baez, Ed Sheeran and others. It is an American song that dates back at least as far as the early nineteenth century, but its origin is unknown. It sounds to me like a potent grafting of African-American spiritual lyrics on to an Irish tune. But that's just a guess. What's for sure is that it's a powerful song with a religious message that speaks to the age-old themes of loss and reunion in the next world.
Chords
Capo at 3rd Fret
Verse
Am
I am a poor wayfaring stranger,
Dm Am
While traveling through this world of woe;
Am
Yet there's no sickness, toil or danger
Dm G Am
in that bright world to which I go.
Chorus
Am F C
I'm going there to see my father,
F C E7
I'm going there no more to roam;
Am
I'm only going over Jordan,
Dm Em Am
I'm only going over home.
Verse
Am
Though dark clouds will gather round me -
Dm Am
I know my way is rough and steep -
Am
Yet beauteous fields lie just before me,
Dm G m
Where God's redeemed their vigils keep.
Chorus
Am F C
I'm going there to see my mother,
F C E7
She said she'd meet me when I come;
Am
I'm only going over Jordan,
Dm Em Am
I'm only going over home.
Play this song with a capo at the third fret to strum along with the Emmy Lou Harris video, or move your capo up or down the fretboard to find a key that works for your voice
Lyrics
I am a poor wayfaring stranger,
While traveling through this world of woe;
Yet there's no sickness, toil or danger
in that bright world to which I go.
I'm going there to see my father,
I'm going there no more to roam;
I'm only going over Jordan,
I'm only going over home.
Though dark clouds will gather round me -
I know my way is rough and steep -
Yet beauteous fields lie just before me,
Where God's redeemed their vigils keep.
I'm going there to see my mother:
She said she'd meet me when I come;
I'm only going over Jordan,
I'm only going over home.