Canadian singer and songwriter Neil Young includes his personal garage band… Read Full Bio ↴Canadian singer and songwriter Neil Young includes his personal garage band Crazy Horse ("second best backing band in the world") to make raw and unpolished rock. Their gritty style of rock has influenced countless artists and music styles.

Crazy Horse is best known for its long association with Young, despite having released five albums of its own over a 19-year span. It has been co-credited with Young as Neil Young and Crazy Horse on 15 albums, "Americana" and "Psychedelic Pill" from 2012 being the latest.

The band recorded a concept album entitled "Greendale" (2003) that told the story using metaphors of murder and crime to represent the destruction of a small town community. The final song "Be The Rain" is one of Neil's classic epics, pleading for the world to be like the rain -- recycle and conserve to save our planet.

Discography: the studio albums "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1969), "Zuma" (1975), "Rust Never Sleeps" (1979), "Re-ac-tor" (1981), "Life" (1987), "Ragged Glory" (1990), "Sleeps With Angels" (1994), "Broken Arrow" (1996), Greendale (2003), "Americana" (2012), Psychedelic Pill (2012) and live albums "Live Rust" (1979), "Weld" (1991), "Year of the Horse" (1997), "Live at the Fillmore East" (2006)

Wayfarin' Stranger
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I'm traveling through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness, toil, or danger
In that bright world 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 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
Yet beauteous fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed, their vigils keep

I'm going there to see my mother
She said she'd meet me when I come
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
While traveling through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness, toil, or danger
In that bright world 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

Overall Meaning

Neil Young's version of "Wayfaring Stranger" is a rendition of a classic American gospel song, which recounts the journey of a wayfaring stranger traveling through a world of suffering and hardship, and his hope and faith in the promise of a brighter world to come. The song speaks to the universal human experience of longing for a better life beyond the present, and the comfort and solace one finds in the belief in a higher power and a life after death.

In the first stanza, the wayfaring stranger introduces himself as a traveler through a world of woe, and expresses his longing for a better life in the "bright world to which I go." He has faith that in that world, there is no sickness, toil, or danger, and this belief gives him hope and comfort.

In the second stanza, the stranger speaks of his journey to meet his father, and his resolve not to roam anymore. He is going over Jordan, a metaphor for crossing over to the other side, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for death. He believes that by crossing over, he will finally find his true home.

In the final stanza, the wayfaring stranger reiterates his faith in the promise of a brighter world, and his longing to see his mother, who promised to meet him when he comes. The song ends with the hopeful refrain of going over Jordan to find his true home.

Overall, Neil Young's interpretation of "Wayfaring Stranger" is a haunting and beautiful tribute to the timeless spiritual classic, which speaks to the universal human longing for a better life beyond the present.

Line by Line Meaning

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I am a wanderer in this world, someone who is constantly moving from one place to another without a true home

I'm traveling through this world of woe
I am journeying through a world of pain and suffering

Yet there's no sickness, toil, or danger
In the world beyond this one, there will be no illness, hard work, or threats to my safety

In that bright world to which I go
I am headed towards a place of light and happiness, where all is good and right

I'm going there to see my father
I am traveling to this place to be reunited with my father, who I have not seen in some time

I'm going there no more to roam
This journey will be my last, as I am going somewhere to finally settle down and stop wandering

I'm only going over Jordan
This is a metaphorical way of saying that I am crossing over into the afterlife

I'm only going over home
I am finally returning to my true, eternal home

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I am aware that there will be challenges and obstacles ahead

I know my way is rough and steep
I am aware that the path I am on will be difficult and arduous

Yet beauteous fields lie just before me
Even though there are difficulties ahead, there will also be beauty and peace

Where God's redeemed, their vigils keep
This is a reference to a place where those who have been saved by God will be watching over me and waiting for my arrival

I'm going there to see my mother
In addition to seeing my father, I will be able to finally see my mother again after a long separation

She said she'd meet me when I come
My mother has promised to be there waiting for me when I finally arrive

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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