Wayfaring Stranger
Eva Cassidy Lyrics
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
While journeying through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness toil nor danger
In that bright land to which I go
I'm going there to see my father
I'm going there no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I know my way my way is rough and steep
Yet beautiful fields lie just before me
And God's redeemed their vigils keep
I'm going there to see my father
I'm going there no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I'm going there oh to see my mother
I'm going there no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I want to wear that crown of glory
When I get home to that good land
Well I want to shout salvation's story
In concert with the blood-washed band
I'm going there to see my Savior
Oh I'm going there no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
Well I'm only going over home
Yeah only going over home
I'm only going over home
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Eva Marie Cassidy (February 2, 1963 in Washington, DC – November 2, 1996 in Bowie, Maryland) was an American vocalist described by the British newspaper The Guardian as "one of the greatest voices of her generation." She had a diverse repertoire of jazz, blues, folk, gospel and pop. Cassidy remained virtually unknown outside of her native Washington, DC, when she died of melanoma (which had spread to her bones) in 1996. Her posthumously released recordings have since sold in excess of four million copies Read Full BioEva Marie Cassidy (February 2, 1963 in Washington, DC – November 2, 1996 in Bowie, Maryland) was an American vocalist described by the British newspaper The Guardian as "one of the greatest voices of her generation." She had a diverse repertoire of jazz, blues, folk, gospel and pop. Cassidy remained virtually unknown outside of her native Washington, DC, when she died of melanoma (which had spread to her bones) in 1996. Her posthumously released recordings have since sold in excess of four million copies, and in early 2001 the compilation album Songbird reached #1 on the UK album charts.
Eva Cassidy was the third of four children born to Hugh and Barbara Cassidy. From an early age, she displayed artistic and musical talent. When she was nine years old, her father taught her to play the guitar, and she began to play and sing at family gatherings.
While a student at Bowie High School, she did sing with a local band, called Stonehenge, and received considerable praise.
At the age of eighteen, Cassidy began her professional career, singing and playing guitar in a Washington, D.C., area band, called Easy Street. This band performed in a variety of styles, at weddings, corporate parties, and pubs.
During the summer of 1983, Cassidy sang and played guitar, six days per week, at Wild World, in Maryland. Her brother Dan was also a member of this working band.
Throughout the 1980s, Cassidy worked with a number of other bands, including the soul and Motown-oriented band The Honeybees, and the techno-pop band Characters Without Names, later called Method Actor.
During this period, Cassidy also worked as a propagator at a plant nursery and as a furniture painter in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1986, she met (bassist and recording engineer) Chris Biondo, who encouraged her and helped her find work as a backup singer for various acts. In 1990, Biondo and Cassidy hired the so-called "Eva Cassidy Band", composed of Chris Biondo, Lenny Williams, Keith Grimes and Raice McLeod, and she began to perform frequently in the Washington area.
In 1992, Biondo played a tape of Cassidy's voice for Chuck Brown. Best known as the "Godfather of Go-go", Brown is also a jazz and blues vocalist. This led to the first commercial recording of Cassidy, the duet album with Chuck Brown, The Other Side; which featured performances of classic songs such as "Fever", Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" and Cassidy's signature tune "Over the Rainbow". The album was released and distributed by Liaison Records, the label that also released Brown's Go-go albums. The duet CD attracted the attention of various record companies, but the offers all required Cassidy to pigeonhole herself within a single style (e.g., pop or jazz), something she adamantly refused to do.[citation needed]
In 1993 Eva Cassidy was first honored by the Washington area music community when she was awarded two Wammie awards for "Female Vocalist Roots/Traditional R&B" and "Vocalist Jazz/Traditional." The next year she was chosen to perform for the awards ceremony.
In January 1996, Cassidy recorded the album Live at Blues Alley, about which The Washington Post later commented that "she could sing anything and make it sound like the only music that mattered". [1] Cassidy was unhappy with her singing on the album, because she had a bad cold on the night of the recording; she began recording a studio album which was eventually released as Eva by Heart posthumously in 1997.
During a promotional event for the Live at Blues Alley CD in July 1996, Cassidy noticed an ache in her hips, which she attributed to stiffness from painting murals. The pain persisted, and, a few weeks later, Cassidy was diagnosed with melanoma. By the time of her diagnosis, the cancer had spread throughout her body. Cassidy's health rapidly deteriorated, and her final performance was in September 1996. At the performance, she had used a walker to reach the stage, sang "What a Wonderful World" in front of an audience of friends, and was subsequently admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital.[citation needed]
Eva Cassidy died on November 2, 1996, at the age of 33. She was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Washington Area Music Association.
Eva Cassidy was the third of four children born to Hugh and Barbara Cassidy. From an early age, she displayed artistic and musical talent. When she was nine years old, her father taught her to play the guitar, and she began to play and sing at family gatherings.
While a student at Bowie High School, she did sing with a local band, called Stonehenge, and received considerable praise.
At the age of eighteen, Cassidy began her professional career, singing and playing guitar in a Washington, D.C., area band, called Easy Street. This band performed in a variety of styles, at weddings, corporate parties, and pubs.
During the summer of 1983, Cassidy sang and played guitar, six days per week, at Wild World, in Maryland. Her brother Dan was also a member of this working band.
Throughout the 1980s, Cassidy worked with a number of other bands, including the soul and Motown-oriented band The Honeybees, and the techno-pop band Characters Without Names, later called Method Actor.
During this period, Cassidy also worked as a propagator at a plant nursery and as a furniture painter in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1986, she met (bassist and recording engineer) Chris Biondo, who encouraged her and helped her find work as a backup singer for various acts. In 1990, Biondo and Cassidy hired the so-called "Eva Cassidy Band", composed of Chris Biondo, Lenny Williams, Keith Grimes and Raice McLeod, and she began to perform frequently in the Washington area.
In 1992, Biondo played a tape of Cassidy's voice for Chuck Brown. Best known as the "Godfather of Go-go", Brown is also a jazz and blues vocalist. This led to the first commercial recording of Cassidy, the duet album with Chuck Brown, The Other Side; which featured performances of classic songs such as "Fever", Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" and Cassidy's signature tune "Over the Rainbow". The album was released and distributed by Liaison Records, the label that also released Brown's Go-go albums. The duet CD attracted the attention of various record companies, but the offers all required Cassidy to pigeonhole herself within a single style (e.g., pop or jazz), something she adamantly refused to do.[citation needed]
In 1993 Eva Cassidy was first honored by the Washington area music community when she was awarded two Wammie awards for "Female Vocalist Roots/Traditional R&B" and "Vocalist Jazz/Traditional." The next year she was chosen to perform for the awards ceremony.
In January 1996, Cassidy recorded the album Live at Blues Alley, about which The Washington Post later commented that "she could sing anything and make it sound like the only music that mattered". [1] Cassidy was unhappy with her singing on the album, because she had a bad cold on the night of the recording; she began recording a studio album which was eventually released as Eva by Heart posthumously in 1997.
During a promotional event for the Live at Blues Alley CD in July 1996, Cassidy noticed an ache in her hips, which she attributed to stiffness from painting murals. The pain persisted, and, a few weeks later, Cassidy was diagnosed with melanoma. By the time of her diagnosis, the cancer had spread throughout her body. Cassidy's health rapidly deteriorated, and her final performance was in September 1996. At the performance, she had used a walker to reach the stage, sang "What a Wonderful World" in front of an audience of friends, and was subsequently admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital.[citation needed]
Eva Cassidy died on November 2, 1996, at the age of 33. She was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Washington Area Music Association.
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DL Ray
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
While journeying through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness toil nor danger
In that bright land to which I go
I'm going there to see my father
I'm going there no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I know dark clouds will gather over me
I know my way is rough and steep
Yet beautiful fields lie just before me
And God's redeemed their vigils keep
I'm going there to see my father
I'm going there no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I'm going there to see my mother
I'm going there no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I want to wear that crown of glory
When I get home to that good land
Well I want to shout salvation's story
In concert with the blood-washed band
I'm going there to see my Savior
Oh I'm going there no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
Well I'm only going over home
Yeah only going over home
I'm only going over home
Charlie Jervis
WAYFARING STRANGER
by
Johnny Cash
I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world below
There is no sickness, no toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go
I'm going there to see my Father
And all my loved ones who've gone on
I'm just going over Jordan
I'm just going over home
I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is hard and steep
But beauteous fields arise before me
Where God's redeemed,
David Brooks
What hasn’t been said about Eva Cassidy. She had everything. Her voice will never die out. She didn’t know it, but she left a huge hole, that nobody since has filled. Raw talent. Powerful, soft, meaningful voice. She didn’t just sing a song, she became the song, putting her whole self into every performance. Trying to think of somebody that can, or wants to do that today, ,,,,,,, nope , can’t think of anyone . She was unique, and if I am ever trapped on an island, I hope to god I have her music with me. Thanks to Sir Terry Wogan for opening our ears to her greatness. God rest you both. DB.
Phil Piper
Great comment. There is, and has been for 30 years or so, an artist who also sings using body and soul, the incomparable Lara Fabian.
S M
I've always heard this song, slow and sober. When the music started, I thought, "I think I've come to one of Eva's songs that I don't like." Boy was I ever wrong!!! This woman could sing your grocery list and make it beautiful. I guess she's that wayfaring stranger. She's gone home, no more to roam. A gain for heaven, but such a loss for us.
Horsey Horselips 🐎
AMEN 🎤🙏💔🙏🎤
Trevor Morris
@Tobias Oellers
I would say this is not the way I would NORMALLY like it to be sung. However, this particular version is great. There is also an acoustic version by Eva which is more traditional but I prefer this version of hers. She rocks this one up with that bluesy, jazzy, almost black gospel passion, but she still remains true to the sentiments of the song.
Tobias Oellers
So did I. This is not the way I prefer Wayfaring Stranger is sung, but her voice still makes it an unbelievable experience.
Don Strasbaugh
This amazing angel just breathes true wonder into every song she gives us. I’ve just found my inner peace here on earth. I wish I could’ve spoken to her just once. I’ll see you in heaven dear then I will hear you breathe in my humble presence. Thank you Eva.
Donna Vorbach
Amen.
Gary Neilson
Never dreamed it could be done like this, but it's right, just right. She knew what to do with any song, to make it her own and make it live.
Stephanie Knows
This is one of my favorite albums. Her interpretation of even traditional songs seems so personal and from such a deep place it's hard to believe she didn't write them all.