"Pilgrim Of Sorrow"
Negro Spiritual
Vocal Arrangement by: Dr. Ysaye Barnwell & Beth Nielsen Chapman
©2007 Prismlight Music (SESAC – USA and Canada)/PRS – Worldwide ex. USA and Canada) /Barnwell's Notes Publishing (BMI)
Produced by BNC
Recorded by Mike Paragone
at East Iris Studio, Nashville, Tn.
Mixed at Oceanway Studio by David Leonard
Vocal Arrangement: Ysaye Barnwell, BNC
Vocals: BNC & Dr. Ysaye Barnwell
This is one of the first negro spirituals that was written on the slave ships coming over from Africa. I thank Ysaye (who sings bass with "Sweet Honey & the Rock" ) for bringing it to my attention and for her help in arranging it and teaching it to me.
Ysaye had come into the studio to sing some of the bass vocals on the latin "Hymns" project and we started talking about spirituals. I told her I wanted to include a Negro spiritual on this 'world hymns' project. Dr. Barnwell is practically a musicologist and told me about this song. Then she proceeded to teach it to me. Then before you knew it we were recording it. I love the bass vocals she put on this recording. The song has such a sense of faith in spite of great grief and sorrow. It is a plaintive cry for help in the midst of such unspeakable circumstances.
I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow, I'm lost in this wide world alone
No hope have I for tomorrow, I'm trying make heaven my home.
Sometimes I am toss-ed an' driven,
Sometimes I don't know where to roam
But I heard of a city called Heaven,
An' I'm tryin' to make heaven my home.
My mother has reached that pure glory, my father's still walking in sin
My brothers and sisters won't own me, 'cause I am tryin' to make it on in
Sometimes I am toss-ed an' driven
Sometimes I don't know where to roam
But I heard of a city called Heaven
An' I'm tryin' to make heaven my home
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