The
gospel songPalms of Victory, also called "Deliverance Will Come", and "The Way-worn Traveler", appears to have been written in 1836 by
John B. Matthias, a Methodist Episcopal minister in New York State. This attribution is not well documented, and Matthias had no known history of songwriting, but there is no other author to whom it can be attributed.
Authorship
"Palms of Victory" appears to have been written by someone in particular, rather than having been the development of a community of folk singers, because it is a sophisticated song with complex verses that tell a consistent story.
George Pullen Jackson notes that spiritual folk songs arising from a community feature a "progressive simplification of the text".[1] The song is clearly based on the story of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.[citation needed]
In 1886, William McDonald published Songs of Joy and Gladness,[2] which included "Deliverance Will Come" as hymn #214. Then, in 1909, the song was included in New Songs of the Gospel as hymn #267, and that publication claimed that they had received permission from McDonald.[3] As the song had been published prior to this book, however, it is clear that McDonald did not write it.
Ten years before New Songs of the Gospel, "Palms of Victory" had been published in an independent gospel songbook,[4] and seven years earlier, the song had been published in a
Mennonite songbook, Church and Sunday-school Hymnal, hymn #132.[5] In both the 1899 and 1902 books, credit for words and music are given to John B. Matthias, with no mention of McDonald's arrangement. There is hardly any difference in the music between the 1902 and 1909 publications, and the only difference in the words is that the 1909 publication omits stanza 3 as found in the 1902 publication.[citation needed]
Wayne Erbsen refers to research done by
Gus Meade, concluding that Matthias wrote "Palms of Victory".[6]
History of use
"Palms of Victory" has not been widely used in church circles. It seems to have been published in only four "standard" hymnals, between 1900 and 1966: the
MennoniteChurch and Sunday-school Hymnal of 1902 (hymn no. 132),[7]Glorious Gospel Hymns (
Nazarene) of 1931 (hymn no. 132, as "The Bloodwashed Pilgrim"),[8] the
African Methodist Episcopal hymnal of 1954,[9] and the
National Baptist Convention hymnal of 1924 (hymn #333).[10] In 1893, it was included in the
Seventh-day Adventist hymnal as #1145.[11] An informal survey of late-19th century and early-20th century gospel song books found the song included in a small number of collections.[3][2][4] More recent research shows that it was included in 96 hymnals between 1875 and 1965.[12]
In 1962 or 1963,
Bob Dylan picked it up, changed the words, and wrote "Paths of Victory", which he sang on a
Westinghouse television special. Dylan's version was published in Broadside magazine and later recorded by other artists.[14][15]
In 1995, the "Bloodwashed Pilgrim" version of the song was recorded by
Crystal Lewis and included on her album entitled Hymns: My Life.
The
University of California has several
fight songs, one of which is sometimes called "Palms of Victory" and includes the words "Palms of victory we will win for Alma Mater true."[16] This is not the gospel song but instead takes its melody from a minstrel song known as "Springtime in Dixieland", or "Happy Days in Dixieland".[citation needed]
Wayne Erbsen notes that the tune was used for a protest song called "Pans of Biscuits", with the chorus lyrics being "Pans of biscuits, bowls of gravy/Pans of biscuits we shall have."[17]
It was recorded by
Guy Penrod when he was a member of the
Gaither Vocal Band, a Southern Gospel Group led by
Bill Gaither. The song was featured in at least one Gaither Homecoming video title, The Hawaiian Homecoming.[18]
Lyrics and variations
Way-worn traveler variation
The words, as found in the 1902 publication, are as follows:
Deliverance Will Come
I saw a wayworn traveler, in tattered garments clad,
And struggling up the mountain, it seemed that he was sad;
His back was laden heavy, his strength was almost gone,
Yet he shouted as he journeyed, "Deliverance will come!"
Then palms of victory, crowns of glory,
Palms of victory I shall wear.
The summer sun was shining, the sweat was on his brow,
His garments worn and dusty, his step seemed very slow;
But he kept pressing onward, for he was wending home,
Still shouting as he journeyed, "Deliverance will come!"
Then palms of victory, crowns of glory,
Palms of victory I shall wear.
The songsters in the arbor that stood beside the way
Attracted his attention, inviting his delay:
His watchword being "Onward!" he stopped his ears and ran,
Still shouting as he journeyed, "Deliverance will come!"
Then palms of victory, crowns of glory,
Palms of victory I shall wear.
I saw him in the evening; the sun was bending low;
He'd overtopped the mountain, and reached the vale below:
He saw the Golden City, "his everlasting home"
And shouted loud, "Hosanna! Deliverance will come!"
Then palms of victory, crowns of glory,
Palms of victory I shall wear.
While gazing on that city, just o'er the narrow flood,
A band of holy angels came from the throne of God;
They bore him on their pinions safe o'er the dashing foam,
And joined him in his triumph: Deliverance had come!
Then palms of victory, crowns of glory,
Palms of victory I shall wear.
I heard the song of triumph they sang upon that shore,
Saying, "Jesus has redeemed us to suffer nevermore!"
Then casting his eyes backward on the race which he had run,
He shouted loud, "Hosanna! Deliverance has come!"
Then palms of victory, crowns of glory,
Palms of victory I shall wear.
Additional stanzas were published in the 1888 Songs of Pilgrimage: A Hymnal for the Churches of Christ:[19]
His eyes were dim and heavy, his body weak and way,
Therefore his Brother gave him a couch to lie upon;
And closed the blinds around him, and locked him up alone,
That nothing might disturb him, till deliverance should come.
Hope made for him a pillow, and faith a garment rare,
To wrap him in his slumbers, till Christ his home prepare.
But when the dawn of morning broke in his little room,
He rose, and cried "Hosanna! Deliverance has come!"
Then I heard the song of triumph he sung upon that shore,
Saying, "Jesus has redeemed me, to suffer never more;"
And casting his eyes backward on the race that he had run,
He shouted loud, "Hosanna! Deliverance has come!"
The chorus has been translated into German as follows:
^A.M.E. Hymnal: With Responsive Scripture Readings Adopted in Conformity with the Doctrines and Usages of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. NP:A.M.E. Sunday School Union, 1954.
^Recorded under the title "Wayworn Traveler." Available on several CDs, including the 12-CD box set The Carter Family: In the Shadow of Clinch Mountain.
^Erbsen, Wayne. Old Time Gospel Songbook. Pacific, MO: MelBay Publications, p. 56.
^"Hawaiian Homecoming DVD & CD." Hawaiian Homecoming DVD & CD. N.p., n.d. Web. September 15, 2012. <
"Hawaiian Homecoming DVD & CD". Archived from
the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.>.
^Hastings, H. L.Songs of Pilgrimage: A Hymnal for the Churches of Christ, 2nd Ed. Boston: Scriptural Tract Repository, 1888. no. 1279