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City Called Heaven/Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow/Tossed and Driven
Traditional Spiritual
ARTIST: Spiritual from Marian Anderson; Chicago in 1941
SHEET MUSIC:
YOUTUBE: Anderson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oktdj3nvjC4
Mahalia Jackson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIfKzeLD4YI&feature=related
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Gospel
DATE: 1800s; Folk Songs of the American Negro- John Work 1907
RECORDING INFO: City Called Heaven
Wilson, Olly . A City Called Heaven A City Called Heaven
Caesar, Shirley . A City Called Heaven A City Called Heaven
Jackson, Mahalia . Journey To Heaven A City Called Heaven
Langston Hughes: Heaven: The City Called Heaven Arna Bontemps An Anthology of African American Poetry for Young People
Reese, Carlton. Lest We Forget, Vol. 2: Birmingham, Alabama, 1963 - Mass Meeting
City Called Heaven
Toppin, Louise . He'll Bring It to Pass City Called Heaven
Atlanta Boy Choir. Over Jordan; City Called Heaven
Bryan, Courtney. Quest for Freedom; City Called Heaven
Williams, Marion. City Called Heaven Remember Me
Roscoe, Glenn. From The Heart City Called Heaven
Thompson, Deborah. Lift Every Voice And Sing City Called Heaven
Debarge, Mama. On My Knees City Called Heaven (Feat. Darrien Jordan)
Kahane, Jeffrey. Jeffrey Kahane Live From The Spoleto Festival 1987 City Called Heaven
American Voices. American Voices Around the World City Called Heaven
Johns, Stephen . Seven Songs City Called Heaven
Porter, Cheryl . Gospel City Called Heaven
Ruby, Elzy. City called Heaven Ruby Elzy (1935-1942)
Braff, Ruby. Duets, Vol. 2 A City Called Heaven
Price, Leontyne. Spirituals, Hymns and Sacred Songs A City Called Heaven
Heston, Charlton. Reads From The Life & Passion Of Jesus Christ Heard Of A City Called Heaven
Hall Johnson Choir I've Heard Of A City Called Heaven 1940s Vocal Groups Vol. 2 (1940-1945)
Two Spirituals for Soprano and Orchestra: A City called Heaven Moores School Symphony Orchestra An American Voice
Marian Anderson. Spirituals; City Called Heaven
Angela Brown. Mosaic; City Called Heaven
Sledge, Aaron . Aaron Sledge; City Called Heaven
Toronto Children's Chorus A Song For All Seasons City Called Heaven
Price, Eudora. My Favorite Songs and Spirituals City Called Heaven
English-Robinson, Laura. Let It Shine! City Called Heaven
Thompson, Billy. From The Heart... City Called Heaven
Sykes, Jubilant. Jubilant A City Called Heaven
Malin, Touch. Somebody's Life A City Called Heaven
RECORDING INFO: Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow/ Tossed and Driven [Me III-C 40]
At - Poor Pilgrim
Rm - Banks of the Lea/Lee
Beck, I. D.. Southern Journey. Vol. 4: Brethren, We Meet Again, Rounder 1704, CD (1997), trk# 21 [1959/09/06]
Bluestein Family. Sowing on the Mountain, Fretless 141, LP (1979), trk# B.04 (Poor Pilgrim)
Duvall, Leone. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 43/#610A [1926/11/04] (Tossed and Driven)
Reed, Mrs. Allie. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 44/#610B [1930/01/17] (Tossed and Driven)
Ritchie, Jean. Sweet Rivers, June Appal JA 037, LP (1981), trk# A.01
RECORDING INFO: I'm a Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow
Heavenly Gospel Singers. Birmingham Quartet Anthology. Jefferson County Alabama (1926-53), Clanka Lanka CL 144,001/002, LP (1980), trk# D.05 [1944ca]
Phillips Wonders. Art of Field Recording, Vol. 1, Dust to Digital DTD 08, CD( (2007), trk# 2.18b [1976/05]
OTHER NAMES: "Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow," "Poor Pilgrim" "I'm a Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow"
"Tossed and Driven" "Tryin' To Make Heaven My Home"
RELATED TO: Man of Constant Sorrow; Banks of the Lea/Lee "Trampin', Trampin',"
SOURCES: Folk Songs of the American Negro John Work 1907
NOTES: "City Called Heaven" is one title of the widely known traditional spiritual, "Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow." According to "Fought For It and Paid Taxes Too: Four Interviews with Cyrus Colter," Gilton Gregory Cross, Callahoo Vol. 14 No. 4 (Autumn 1991), p. 893: Writer Richard Wright was present at the Anderson's performance, and he became very angry and was "glowering" according to Colter.
Mahalia Jackson (link above) does a similar version with organ acccompaniment. The song, found in both white and black sources, has many variants and titles including these from the Roud Index (ROUD #5425):
POOR PILGRIM- Jackson, Down-East Spirituals (2nd edn., 1953) pp.70-72
"I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow . . . "
POOR PILGRIM OF SORROW- Beck, I.D. & Congregation / Rounder CD 1704 (`Southern Journey 4: Brethren We Meet Again')
TOSSED AND DRIVEN- Brown, North Carolina Folklore 3 (1952) p.676
"Father said to me when dying . . ."
PILGRIM OF SORROW- Gainer, Folk Songs from the West Virginia Hills pp.192-193
"I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow . . ."
POOR PILGRIM- Jackson, White Spirituals in the Southern Uplands pp.270-272
"I am a poor wayfaring stranger . . ."
(previous source: Dett, Religious Folk-Songs of the Negro
POOR PILGRIM OF SORROW- Mount Olivat Regular Baptist Church / New World NW 294 ('Gospel Ship') "I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow . . ."
TOSSED AND DRIVEN- Randolph, Ozark Folk Songs 4 pp.43-45 (version a)
"Sometimes I'm tossed an' driven . . ."
TOSSED AND DRIVEN- Randolph, Ozark Folk Songs 4 pp.43-45 (version b)
"I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow . . ."
I INTEND TO MAKE HEAVEN MY HOME- Macon, Songs & Stories of Uncle Dave Macon (1938) No.8 "I've been thinking today of my old home . . ."
I STARTED TO MAKE HEAVEN MY HOME- Solomon, Honey in the Rock (1991) p.30
"Sometime I'm boasted, tosst, en driven . . ."
I STARTED TO MAKE HEAVEN MY HOME- Ruby Pickens Tartt Collection (Univ. West Alabama, Livingston) Series 9 Box 4 folder K-8 item 51
"Sometime I'm boasted, toasted en driven . . ."
POOR PILGRIM- Meade, Country Music Sources (2002) p.590
I AM A POOR PILGRIM OF SORROW- Williams, Mrs. Martha / Library of Congress recording 1024 A1
The song has been traced back to 1890 by Randolph and seems to have originated as a white gospel song in the mid-1800s. The first African-American version is "I'm striving to make it my home" in 1927 edition by Dett.
Poor Pilgrim- Sung by Mrs. Eva Evans, coll. by R. N. Dett, p. 169, "Religious Folk-Songs of the Negro, 1927 ed. (not in previous editions).
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I sometimes know not where to roam
I heard of a city called heaven
I'm striving to make it my home.
Sometimes I'm both tossed and driven,
I sometimes know not where to roam,
I heard of a ciy called heaven,
I'm striving to make it my home.
My friends and relations forsake me,
And troubles roll round me so high,
I thought of the kind voice of Jesus
Saying, "Poor pilgrim, I'm always nigh."
TOSSED AND DRIVEN- (Randolph 610B, c. 1890)- Coll. from Arkansas, 1930; The contributor, Mrs. Reed, says that her parents sang it in church about 1890. Randolph, Vance, 1946-1950 reprinted 1980, "Ozark Folksongs," vol. 4, 610B, pp. 44-45. A partial score is given for version A, from Pineville, MO, c. 1895
1. I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow,
I am left in this wide world to roam,
I have no hope of tomorrow,
I've started to make Heaven my home.
2. Sometimes I'm so tossed an' driven,
Sometimes I know not where to roam,
I've heard of a city called Heaven,
I've started to make it my home.
3. I've left my wife and dear children,
To preach wherever I'm called,
To work for my dear Savior,
He has promised to take me in.
4. My mother has reached that bright city,
My father's still walkin' in sin,
My brothers and sisters won't own me,
Because I am tryin' to get in.
5. The old ship is now fast approachin',
The captain is calling my name,
I'm lookin' for my dear Savior,
Who promised to take me in.
Traditional Ballad Index: Tossed and Driven (The Poor Pilgrim)
DESCRIPTION: "I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow, I am left in this wide world to roam... I've started to make Heaven my home." "Sometimes I'm so tossed and driven. Sometimes I know not where to roam." The singer has left his family; after death he hopes to see them again
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1926
KEYWORDS: religious death travel
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation): Randolph 610, "Tossed and Driven" (2 texts, 1 tune)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "I Am a Pilgrim"
Notes: This song instantly made me think of "Man of Constant Sorrow," and also of "Wayfaring Stranger," but I cannot tell if there is any connection. And "pilgrim" songs all sound alike somehow. - RBW
George Pullen Jackson, who collected a version titled "Poor Pilrgrim" compares it to the folk song "The Banks of the Lera" which begins:
When first in this country a stranger,
Curiosity caused me to roam;
Over Europe I resolved to be a ranger,
When I left Philadelphia my home."
Tryin' to Make Heaven My Home- Jean Ritchie: "Has an Old Regular Baptist tune, sung slowly and decorated. Very beautiful!"
I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow,
Cast out in this wide world to roam;
I have no hope for the morrow,
I'm trying to make Heaven my home.
Cho: Sometime I'm tossed and driven-
I know not where to roam.
I've heard of a city called Heaven, and
I've started to make it my home.
CITY CALLED HEAVEN- negrospirituals.com
I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow
I’m tossed in this wide world alone
No hope I have for to morrow
I’ve started to heav’n my home
Sometimes I am tossed and driven, Lord,
Sometimes I don’t know where to roam
I’ve heard of a city called heaven
I’ve started to make it my home
My mother reached that pure glory
My father’s still walkin’ in sin
My brothers and sisters won’t own me
Because I am tryin’ to get in
CITY CALLED HEAVEN-online source facebook
I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow,
Tossed and driven in this world alone,
No hope have I for tomorrow,
So i've started to make heaven my home,
Sometimes I am tossed and driven Lord,
Sometimes I just don't know where to roam,
But i've heard of the city called heaven,
And I've started to make Heaven my home,
My mother has reached the bright glory,
My father yet walks in sin,
My sisters and my brothers, Won't own me,
All because i'm trying to make it in,
But I've heard of a city,
A city called heaven,
And I've started to make heaven my home.
A CITY CALLED HEAVEN- Marian Anderson 1941
slowly- very adlib in minor key; Vocal with piano accompaniment
I am a poor pilgrim...., of sorrow
And I'm left in, this whole wide world, I'm left in this wide world alone.
I..., have, no hope for tomorrow,
But I..., I've started..... to make heaven... my.... home.
Well..., sometimes..., I am tossed, and sometimes, I am driven Lord...,
Sometimes, oh... I don't know where I can roam I can roam
But I've heard, of a city called heaven...,
And I..., I've started, to make heaven, my home, my home.
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