In 1986, after twenty years with the Dirt Band, McEuen departed to pursue a solo career. From 1991–1997, he released four albums for Vanguard Records. He composed music for movies and television and he appeared as a guest on albums with several artists including five albums with Michael Martin Murphey. He returned to the Dirt Band in 2001, departing the band once again in late 2017.
Recently, he has also been playing smaller venues with his son, Nathan McEuen.
I Am a Pilgrim
John McEuen Lyrics
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Traveling through this wearisome land
And I've got a home in that yonder city, good Lord
And it's not (good Lordy it's not) not made by hand
I got a mother, a sister and a brother
Who have gone to that sweet home
And I am determined to go and see them, good Lord
As I go down to that river Jordan
Just to bathe my weary soul
If I could touch but just the hem of His garment, good Lord
I believe (good Lordy I believe) that it would make me whole
Now when I'm dead, laying in my coffin
All of my friends all gather round
They can say that he's just laying there sleeping, good Lord
Sweet peace (Lordy sweet peace) his soul is found
The lyrics of John McEuen's song I Am a Pilgrim depict a person who is traveling through a difficult and tiresome world with the hope of reaching their true home in heaven. The singer identifies themselves as a pilgrim and a stranger, suggesting that they are a wanderer on this earth with no fixed abode. They express their desire to be reunited with their family members who have already passed away and gone to heaven, emphasizing their motivation to reach their final destination. The singer goes on to say that when they reach the river Jordan, all they want is to touch the hem of Jesus Christ's garment, believing that it will heal their soul and make them whole. Finally, the lyrics describe the singer's peaceful death and the comfort that their loved ones will take in knowing that they have found eternal peace.
The message of the song is one of hope and faith in the face of life's hardships. It encourages believers to keep their eyes fixed on their ultimate destination and to be confident in the promises of God. By identifying as a pilgrim and a stranger, the singer acknowledges the challenges and uncertainty of life on earth while also affirming their belief in a greater reality beyond this world. The song suggests that for the faithful, death is not an end but a journey to a better place where they will be reunited with loved ones and find eternal peace.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a pilgrim and a stranger
I am a traveler passing through unfamiliar lands
Traveling through this wearisome land
Journeying through this tiresome territory
And I've got a home in that yonder city, good Lord
I have a residence in that distant city, oh Lord
And it's not (good Lordy it's not) not made by hand
It is not, oh Lord, made by human touch
I got a mother, a sister and a brother
There is a mother, a sister and a brother that I have
Who have gone to that sweet home
They have traveled to that pleasant residence
And I am determined to go and see them, good Lord
And I am resolute about going to meet them, oh Lord
Over on (good Lordy over on) that distant shore
Over there, oh Lord, on that faraway coast
As I go down to that river Jordan
As I descend to that Jordan River
Just to bathe my weary soul
Simply to wash my tired spirit
If I could touch but just the hem of His garment, good Lord
If I could only touch the edge of Jesus' robe, oh Lord
I believe (good Lordy I believe) that it would make me whole
I trust, oh Lord, that I would then be complete
Now when I'm dead, laying in my coffin
When I am deceased, lying in my casket
All of my friends all gather round
All of my companions surround me
They can say that he's just laying there sleeping, good Lord
They can declare, oh Lord, that I am resting in slumber
Sweet peace (Lordy sweet peace) his soul is found
His soul, oh Lord, has found peacefulness
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROGER MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind