In this song of despair and hope, the words inspire the music. Behind a soulful, plaintive solo, the accompaniment starts very sparse but gradually thickens into rich and flowing harmonies with a surprise Dorian flavor at just the right moments. The third verse builds into a triumphant maestoso at “I’m goin’ there to see my savior.” But the final phrases remind us that we are not there yet, and there is a long way to go. Even so, the piece ends on a hopeful note.

Arrangements of the song with its traditional words are available for SATB and SSAA, each with a soloist. There is also the newly released He’s Just a Poor Wayfaring Stranger for SATB, with original lyrics by Richard Chisholm, telling the story of a modern-day refugee.

I was commissioned by the Intrepid Brass to arrange a version of this for solo trombone and brass quintet.