Jesus walked this lonesome valley

Jesus walked this lonesome valley. American Folk Hymn; African American spiritual*  The origins of this folk hymn, appropriate for Holy Week, are shrouded in obscurity. It first appeared in USA hymnals during the second half of the 20th century. Its frequency of inclusion increased by the end of the last century and continues into the current one. Although listed as an American Folk Hymn in most hymnals, its origins may be found in a conflation of the Appalachian folk song tradition and the African American Spiritual. The song, known as part of a group under the theme of ‘journey songs’, appears in a much simplified and adapted version, both in text and melody, in current hymnals. The...