schlange - Posted - 06/06/2014:  14:38:56

Merle Travis' 1947 Capitol album "Folk Songs of the Hills" included "I Am a Pilgrim"

This week's tune is "I Am a Pilgrim." This gospel tune is a good one for beginners because it's nice and slow!

Researching the song's origins doesn't give me a definitive author, but it shows that this tune is an excellent example of how folk songs evolve over time. The earliest mention I could find of "The Pilgrim Song (Wayfaring Stranger)" is in The Numeral Edition of The Christian Psalmist compiled by Silas Leonard and A. D. Fillmore, published in 1854. This song's lyrics bear some resemblance to the tune we know today as "I Am a Pilgrim", but it certainly evolved a lot from there. In 1925 it showed up in the book "The Negro and His Songs" by H. W. Odum and G. B. Johnson.

The earliest known recording is from 1917 by the Imperial Quartet. It really got popular, though, when Merle Travis released it in 1947 on his "Folk Songs of the Hills" record with Capital.

Travis had a mentor named Mose Rager, and as the story goes, Mose's brother Lyman learned "I Am a Pilgrim" while in jail in Russellville, KY. Lyman later taught it to Merle, who recorded it during a session in August of 1946.

It went on to be recorded by lots of folks including Johnny Cash, Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, and The Byrds.

This tune is typically played in G, although some like it in E as well.

Lyrics:

I am a pilgrim and a stranger

Traveling through this wearisome land

I've got a home in that yonder city good Lord

And it's not (good Lordy and it's not) not made by hand

I've got a mother got a sister and brother

Who have gone to that sweet home 

And I'm determined to go and see them good Lord

Over on that other shore

As I go down to the river of Jordan 

Just to bathe my weary soul

If I could just touch but just the hem of His garment good Lord

I believe (Lordy I believe) it would make me whole

(taken from this version by Merle)

Learn the Tune:

• Hear It: you can listen to various versions with the GrooveShark playlist to the right.


• Casey Henry has posted a Murphy Method lesson so you can learn the break on this tune (key of G)--only $6 thru the end of the week.​ Get it here >


• John Boulding has posted a backup lesson for this tune, cost is $5. Get it here >


• Backing Tracks: Band in a Box tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure. If you want a full set of backing tracks (which includes more speeds plus a woodshed track that starts slow and gradually speeds up) this tune is on sale at GrassTrax right now for $1.


• Tabs: here's a nice, bluesy one from Joe Gruen

Share!

I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!

VIDEO: Merle Travis - I am a Pilgrim (1971) (click to view)	VIDEO: Abbott Family Band: I Am a Pilgrim [Kuumbwa 2012] (click to view)	VIDEO: Jim Hurst & Rob Ickes - I Am A PIlgrim (Live from Rhythm and Roots 2011) (click to view)	VIDEO: The Byrds -I am a pilgrim (click to view)
VIDEO: Doc Watson - I am a Pilgrim (click to view)	VIDEO: I Am A Pilgrim - Excerpt from the Custom Banjo Lesson from The Murphy Method (click to view)	I Am a Pilgrim Backing Track (60 BPM)	I Am a Pilgrim Backing Track (80 BPM)
I Am a Pilgrim Backing Track (100 BPM)	I Am a Pilgrim chords

scrimple101 - Posted - 06/06/2014:  17:48:33

I knew I liked this song; I had heard it before. It was the Byrds' version from their great album, "Sweethearts of the Rodeo". :)

jbrookeiii - Posted - 06/07/2014:  07:25:23

Perfect timing.  I have one break for this one and will be playing it at church this summer.  Casey's lesson will help get another break.

coelhoe - Posted - 06/10/2014:  09:17:25

If you want to elaborate a bit on the rather skimpy melody, I recommend listening to Clarence White's flatpicked guitar version.  Lots of possibilities.

In the Grisman / Rice version above, which is a tribute to Clarence White, the second guitar break is much like White's for the first half before Rice does his own take off.  But the mando break is very useful with well placed "blue"  notes.  Doc Watson's finger style version (above), an elaboration on Merle Travis's,  is also a very interesting source of ideas.

Edited by - coelhoe on 06/10/2014 09:32:31

Banjophobic - Posted - 06/10/2014:  17:26:43

The BU video has loaded Eric...