Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams posts showcases the African American Gospel song "I'm A Pilgrim".
Some information about "I'm A Pilgrim" is presented in this post along with four videos of this song. The lyrics for these versions of "I'm A Pilgrim" are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown original composers of this song and thanks to all those singers and musicians who are showcased in this posts. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Also, thanks to daniek (January 2, 2020) for alerting me to this video and requesting the lyrics for this version.
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2011/12/three-versions-of-gospel-song-im.html for a 2011 post on "I Am A Pilgrim". That post includes three of the videos that are featured in this post and also includes information about and lyrics for a version of this song that was performed by White American Johnny Cash. In addition that post includes my comments about some of the differences in the African American lyrics as well as some comments from pancocojams readers.
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INFORMATION ABOUT "I AM A PILGRIM" [Summary updated on January 2, 2020)
Click http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=40998&messages=12 for a Mudcat Folk Music forum discussion thread entitled "Lyr Add: I'M A PILGRIM (gospel-spiritual)."
According to information posted by Dicho (Frank Staplin) in 2001 on a Mudcat discussion thread about "I'm A Pilgrim", the oldest documented version of that song is from 1864 (The Southern Zion Songster, 1864, compiled by Editor, North Carolina Christian Advocate, Raleigh, NC. No author cited.) That discussion thread includes the lyrics for that 1854 version and the lyrics to a 1939 version that was collected by John and Ruby Lomax 1939 (Southern States Recording Trip.)
I consider "I'm a Pilgrim" to be an early African American Gospel song (meaning an "old Gospel song") and not a gospelized Spiritual (a Spiritual that is sung in an African American Gospel style).
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AFRICAN AMERICAN VERSIONS OF THE GOSPEL SONG "I'M A PILGRIM"
Without other comments, here are four videos of this song as sung by four African American groups. These videos are given in no particular order.
VERSION #1: THE SOUL STIRRERS
Soul Stirrers - I'm A Pilgrim
Uploaded by bcimasschoir on Apr 17, 2008
-snip-
The lead was sung by Paul Foster.
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LYRICS: I'M A PILGRIM
(The Soul Stirrers's version)
Chorus:
Whooo! I’m a pilgrim
[I’m a pilgrim]
And a stranger
[And a stranger]
Travelin through
[travelin through]
This ole barren land
[Barren land]
I got a home
[I got a home]
In yonder city, Lord
And I will do
The best I can
Chorus: (repeated with group responses as above)
I’m a pilgrim
Nothin but a stranger
Everyday I’m travelin
this ole barren land
But I got a home
In yonder city Lord
And I’ll do
the best I can
Verse 1
(Group humming as counterpoint to the soloist)
I’ve been tempted, Lord
I’ve been tried
I’ve been discouraged
On every side.
While travelin
through this land, Lord
Lord I’ll do
[Lord I’ll do]
the best I can.
[The best that I can]
Chorus:
Lord, I’m a pilgrim
[I’m a pilgrim]
And I’m a stranger
[I’m a stranger]
Don’t you know I’m travelin
[I’m travelin]
This ole barren land
[Barren land]
But I’m not worried
[I’m not worried]
I’ve gotta home
[I’ve got a home]
Somewhere yonder city
[In yonder city]
And I’ll do the best I can.
Verse 2:
(When I) Get to River Jordan
With the tide
I can see Canaan
on the other side
When I get there
Take my stand
Lord I’ll do
[Lord I’ll do]
The best I can
[the best that I can]
Chorus:
Lord, I am a pilgrim
Yes! Travelin through
this ole barren land
But I’m not worried
I gotta home
Somewhere in yonder city
And I’ll do
the best I can.
(Repeat the chorus)
*This is my transcription of "I'm A Pilgrim" from that video. In this transcription, the group's responses to the soloist are given in brackets. Note that the interjections like "Whoo!" and "Lord" were probably changed with each performance. I didn't attempt to write all of those interjections. I also didn't write the lyrics as they are pronounced. However, (as is usually the case with African American English), the word "a" is pronounced "ah".
Additions and corrections are welcome.
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VERSION #2: THE HAWKINS SINGERS
The Hawkins Family - I'm A Pilgrim
Uploaded by robtyree2135 on Jul 4, 2010
From the album "The Hawkins Family Live"
Released In 1980, Light Records
Soloists: Tramaine Hawkins, Freddie Hawkins
I'M A PILGRIM
(as sung by The Hawkins Family)*
Soloist:
Lord I’m a pilgrim
travelin through
this ole barren land
I want you to please
guide my footsteps
and please hold my hand.
Lord, I get so weary
travelin through
this land
Lord I want You to
Guide my footsteps.
And please hold my hand.
Chorus (Soloist & Choir):
Lord, guide me
As I travel
through this land
Lord, guide me.
Lord I want You to please
Hold my hand.
Soloist:
Lord I’m just awaitin
For the day to come
When I can see your face
And hear you say
“Well done”.
Chorus: (repeat 2x)
Soloist:
I can’t make it without you Lord
I can’t make it
I need you to be my guide
Please hold my hand
Please hold my hand
Soloist & Choir:
I’m a pilgrim
travelin through the land
But I need you Jesus
I said I need you Jesus
Just to hold my hand
Please hold my hand
I need you Lord
Lord I’m waitin
I’m just waitin
For the day to come
When I can see your face.
When I get to heaven
I can see Your face
And hear you say well done
Please hold my hand
I need you Lord
Please hold my hand
Please hold my hand.
*My transcription is based on that video but is given without the group's interjections and without some repeats of the end refrain.Additions and corrections are welcome.
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VERSION #3: THE GOSPEL CARAVANS
The Gospel caravans i'm a pilgrim
MegaBlackisBeautiful, Uploaded on Aug 15, 2011
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LYRICS: I'M A PILGRIM
(The Gospel Caravan's version)
Chorus:
Lead - Whooo! I’m a pilgrim
Group -I’m a pilgrim
Lead - And a stranger
Group- And a stranger
Lead - Travelin through
Group- Travelin through this
Lead - Barren land
Group- Barren land
Lead - I got a home
[Group- I got a home
Lead - In yonder city
Group- In yonder city
Lead - And I'll do
Group- And I'll do the
Lead - Best I can
Group- The best I can
[repeat the chorus]
Verse #1
Lead- I’ve been tempted
[The Group repeats each line the Lead sings]
And I’ve been tried
I’ve been discouraged
On every side.
While here travelin
Through this land
Lord I’ll do
The best I can.
Lead- Sometimes I'm up
Sometimes I'm down
Almost level
To the ground
While I'm here travelin
Through this land
Lord, I'll do
The best I can
repeat chorus and riff the words "Lord I'll do the best I can".
-snip-
This is my transcription of the song as performed in this video. Addition and corrections are welcome.
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VERSION #4: "I'M A PILGRIM (WITH BOBBY KING SINGING LEAD)
I'm a Pilgrim
wstein25, Dec 15, 2013
Bobby King Gene Mumford Cliff Givens Ry Cooder
-snip-
Here are two comments from this video's discussion thread that identify the two men who sang the group's response lines:
Kendall Kent, 2018
"Is that Clifford Givens who sang bass???"
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REPLY
Austin Casey, 2019
"Kendall Kent Indeed! Briefly a member of the original Ink Spots. Incidentally, Gene Mumford (right) was a member of spin off Ink Spots groups led by original Ink Spots members."
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LYRICS: I'M A PILGRIM *
(as sung by Bobby King, Gene Mumford, and Cliff Givens)
Lead singer: mmmm- Yeah
Lord, you know that I'm a pilgrim
Group- I'm a pilgrim
And I'm a stranger
Group- I'm a stranger
Lead -Travelin through
Group- Travelin through
Lead -This barren land
Group-This barren land
Lead -Yes, but I got a home
Group- I've got a home
Lead- In yonder city
Group- In yonder city
Lead - Where they don't allow
Group- Where they don't allow
Lead- No sinnerman
Group- No sinnerman
Lead- Oh, I'm a pilgrim
Group- I'm a pilgrim
Lead- Lord, and I'm a stranger
Group-I'm a stranger
Lead -And I'm travelin through
Group- I'm travelin through
Lead - This cold and dreary world
Group- This cold and dreary world
Lead -Yeeah, I got a home
Group- I got a home
Lead - In yonder city
Group- In yonder city
Lead - Where they don't allow
Group- Where they don't allow
Lead - No sinner man
Group - No sinner man
[These words may be repeated multiple times perhaps with slight changes in interjections (such as "Oh" and "Lord") and in the line describing "this barren land"/ "this cold and dreary land" - i.e "earth"
-snip-
*This is my transcription of this song from that video. Additions and corrections are welcome.
The lines "where they don't allow [pronounced " 'llow" ] no sinner man" are found in the beginning of the 1939 version of this song that was collected by John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip (as found n in the Mudcat link that is given above)
".Cho.
My God got a home up in yonder city
Where they don't 'low no sinner men (no sinner men)
My God got a home up in yonder city
Where they don't 'low no sinner men."
-snip-
These words are followed by the more familiar (now) lyrics "I'm a pilgrim and a stranger" etc.
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