Poor Wayfaring Stranger

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Tue, 02/22/2011 - 19:09 — SGates

Does anyone know the origin of the words to "Wayfaring Stranger"? I believe it was originally an African-American Spiritual but don't know for sure. I can't seem to find it anywhere that says more than American Folk Song. Thanks.


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Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:02 — cfenner

According to Wayne Erbsen's Front Porch Old Time Songs (1993), the earliest printing of the tune was in Ananias Davisson's Kentucky Harmony (1816). George Pullen Jackson probably has an analysis in one of his books. I would check there next if I had one handy. No, I wouldn't put it in the same category as slave spirituals.

Chris Fenner

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