12 March 2021 — 0943 mst

I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger, a modern interpretation

This wailing account of the travails of our journey through life probably dates from the earth 19th century. The lyrics were published in 1858, in Joseph Bever’s Christian Songster, but the original author is unknown. It was known briefly as the Libby Prison Hymn during and after the Civil War; Libby was a notorious Confederate prison in Richmond, Virginia. During the 1950s–1980s folk music era, the song was a staple of most folk groups. The video below, by Norway’s Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra, is notable for its lighting, and the lead singer’s keening voice that cuts to one’s soul.