600
I Wonder As I Wander*
Thousli this song has much of the quality of the old English car-
ols it has been reported as folk song only from North Carohna
ami onlv recently (Songs of the HUlfolk 8-9). And wUh reason;
for (as 'he himself has informed Professor H. I\L Belden, m a letter
dated June 12, 1947J it is the work — except for the opening hues,
which he heard in Cherokee county in 1933— of the distinguished
student and practitioner of folk song John Jacob Niles. Mr. Niles's
text, with his own modifications of the tune, was copyrighted in
1934 by Schirmer and lias been widely sold and sung. Mr. Niles's
singing of 'I Wonder As 1 Wander,' with dulcimer accompaniment.
♦Copyright, 1934, by G. Schirmer, hic. Permission to reprint Mr.
Johnson's text and tune has been granted by G. Schirmer, Inc., and Mr.
John Jacot) Niles.
642 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
is recorded in liarly American Ballads, Arranged by John Jacob
Niles, Victor Album M 604.
From Obie Johnson, Crossnore, Avery county ; text undated. Phono-
graph recording made by Mr. Johnson at Crossnore in 1940.
1 I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
How Jesus the Saviour could come for to die
For poor hon'ry^ people like you and like I.
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
2 W^hen Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall.
With wise men and shepherds, and farmers and all.
And high from the heavens a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
3 If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's angels in heaven for to sing.
He surely could" ve had it, for he was the King.
4 I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
How Jesus the Saviour could come for to die
For poor hon'ry people like you and like 1.
I wonder as I wander, out imder the sky.
^Written "hon'ry" in the manuscrii)t. Mr. Nilcs states that this is
for "o'n'ry." The editors take "o'n'ry" to be for "ornery," i.e.,
"ordinary."
----------------------
600
I Wonder As I Wander
'I Wonder As I Wander.' Sung by Obie Johnson, Crossnore, Avery county,
July 14, 1940. Music and text used by permission of G. Schirmer, Inc. and
Mr. John Jacob Niles.
F-518
a cow's stall, With
When Ma - ry birthed Je - sus, 'twas in
wise men and shep - herds, and farm - ers and all. But
high from the heav - ens a star's light did fall, And the
prom - ise of the a- ges it then did re - call.
For melodic relationship cf. ***SHF 8-9.
Scale: Hexatonic (6), plagal. Tonal Center: a(m). Structure: aaia2a3
(4,4,4,4). With the exception of the last phrase, which deviates but slightly
in its initial measure, all the others have everything but the cadences in com-
mon. Circular Tune (IV).