Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, T… Read Full Bio ↴Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, Texas and raised in Lubbock, Texas. His earliest musical influence was Hank Williams and the honky tonk brand of country music that his father played. In the 1950s, he was exposed to the emerging rock and roll of other Texans such as Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Lubbock native Buddy Holly. He was profoundly influenced in the 1960s by the likes of The Beatles and Bob Dylan and the folk music and blues revival in that decade.

Gilmore also played "Smokey" in The Big Lebowski

Peace In The Valley
Jimmie Dale Gilmore Lyrics

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Oh well, I'm tired and so weary
But I must go alone
Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes
Well the morning's so bright
And the lamp is alight
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day

There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me

Well the bear will be gentle
And the wolves will be tame
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes
And the beasts from the wild
Shall be lit by a child
And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow

No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me

Overall Meaning

The song "Peace in the Valley" by Jimmie Dale Gilmore is a poignant piece about the hope for a better future. The opening lines of the song convey a sense of weariness and exhaustion, yet a determination to keep going until the Lord calls the singer away. The contrast between the brightness of morning and the darkness of night creates a vivid image of the ups and downs of life.

As the song continues, the lyrics express a longing for a world free from pain and suffering. The idea of ferocious bears becoming gentle, wolves becoming tame, and lions lying down with lambs suggests a peaceful coexistence where all creatures get along. The image of a child leading wild beasts, and the singer being changed from the creature they currently are, emphasizes the transformative power of peace.

Overall, the message of the song is one of hope and faith in a better future. The singer longs for a world without sorrow or trouble, and prays for peace in the valley someday.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh well, I'm tired and so weary
I am exhausted and drained mentally and physically.

But I must go alone
I have to continue my journey on my own without any company or assistance.

Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes
I am waiting for God's call to take me away from this world.

Well the morning's so bright
The start of a new day is hopeful and positive.

And the lamp is alight
Light and guidance is available to me in the form of knowledge and faith.

And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes
The darkness of the night is overwhelming and deep.

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
I am hopeful that one day, I will find peace and solace in my surroundings.

There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
I pray to God for inner peace and tranquility.

There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
I will not experience any emotional pain or grief.

No trouble, trouble I see
I will not face any hardships or difficulties in my life.

Well the bear will be gentle
The world around me will become less hostile and more tolerant.

And the wolves will be tame
Even the fiercest creatures will become gentler and meek.

And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes
Even the predator will become peaceful and live alongside its prey.

And the beasts from the wild
The untamed animals of the wilderness.

Shall be lit by a child
The innocence of a child will remove the darkness from the hearts of even the most savage creatures.

And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes
The peace and tranquility I find will change my current state of mind, behavior and identity.

There will be peace in the valley for me, for me
Once again, I hope to find inner peace, solace and happiness in my life.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Tratore
Written by: Thomas A. Dorsey

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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