“Lonesome Valley”

Description

"You've got to walk that lonesome valley, you've got to walk it by yourself; There's no one here can go there with you [or: walk it for you]; You've got to go there by yourself." Various floating verses about the difficult path to heaven

Same tune

• Dixie Reelers, "Lonesome Valley - Part 2" (Bluebird B-6713, 1936)

Cross references

• cf. "Hard Trials" (floating verses)

Recordings

• Carolina Ramblers String Band, "That Lonesome Valley" (Perfect 12818/Melotone 12428, 1932)
• Carter Family, "Lonesome Valley" (Victor 23541, 1931; Bluebird B-6117/Montgomery Ward M-4735, 1935) (OKeh 03112, 1935; on CGospel1)
• Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, "Don't This Road Look Rough and Rocky" (Columbia 21334, 1954)
• Elzie Floyd & Leo Boswell, "Lonesome Valley" (Columbia 15167-D, 1927)
• Jenkins Family, "That Lonesome Valley" (OKeh 40377, 1925)
• Heavenly Gospel Singers, "Walk This Lonesome Valley" (Bluebird B-6984, 1937)
• J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers, "Walk That Lonesome Valley" (Bluebird B-6596/Montgomery Ward M-7007, 1936)
• Curt Mann, "Lonesome Valley" (on USWarnerColl01)
• [Lester] McFarland & [Robert] Gardner, "The Lonesome Valley" (Vocalion 5127, 1927)
• Blind Willie McTell, "I Got to Cross the River of Jordan" (LoC, 1940, two versions; one version is on Babylon)
• David Miller, "That Lonesome Valley" (Gennett 6175, 1927)
• Monroe Brothers, "You've Got to Walk That Lonesome Valley" (Bluebird B-6477, 1936)
• Pete Seeger, "You've Got to Walk That Lonesome Valley" (on BroonzySeeger1); "Lonesome Valley" (on PeteSeeger47)

References

1. Randolph 622, "Some Folks Say John Was a Baptist" (1 fragmentary text, 1 tune -- a floating verse which, based on the tune, probably belongs here)
2. Warner 162, "Lonesome Valley" (1 text, 1 tune, sung and notated in three parts)
3. Sandburg, p. 486, "You Got To Cross It Foh Yohself" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Lomax-FSUSA 100, "Lonesome Valley" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Botkin-SoFolklr, p. 762, "Lonesome Valley" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Silber-FSWB, p. 354, "Lonesome Valley" (1 text)
7. DT, LONEVALY
8. Roud #7098
9. BI, Wa162