Farther Along (song)
"Farther Along" is an American Southern gospel song of disputed authorship. The song deals with a Christian's dismay at the apparent prosperity of the wicked, when contrasted with the suffering of the righteous. The repeated theme is that, "farther along" (in Heaven, perhaps), the truth will be revealed.
History
There are several attributions for the authorship of this song. The oldest known print edition is in the 1911 Church of God hymnal Select Hymns for Christian Worship and General Gospel Service;[1] its only attribution is "Arr. B. E. W.", referring to the hymnal editor Barney E. Warren.[2]
In 1937 the
In 2008, a user named James Greer posted an alternative history of the song on Wikisource. He claimed that his grandfather, an itinerant preacher named W. A. Fletcher, wrote the song while travelling in the Indian Territories near the end of 1911. According to Greer, Fletcher wrote the song as a reflection of his sadness that he would not be present for the birth of his first-born child, as he felt his priorities were with his mission to the Indian Territories. J. R. Baxter was sitting next to Fletcher on the train, and was quite taken with the lyrics; he offered Fletcher $2.00 for them and then had them put to music.[5] This version of the song's origin was copied to Wikipedia without further citation, and from there became commonly accepted across the Internet.[2]
Other people who have been credited with authorship of the song include W. E. Lindsey (Eureka Sacred Carols, 1921) and W. P. Jay (Sing Out!, 1960s).[2]
Notable covers
"Father Alone" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Ike Turner | ||||
from the album The Gospel According to Ike & Tina | ||||
B-side | "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" | |||
Released | July 1974 | |||
Recorded | October - November 1973 | |||
Studio | Bolic Sound (Inglewood, California) | |||
Genre | Gospel | |||
Length | 4:17 | |||
Label | United Artists Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | S. Taylor | |||
Producer(s) | Ike Turner | |||
Ike Turner singles chronology | ||||
|
"Farther Along" has been covered by numerous artists over the years,[6] including The Flying Burrito Brothers, who recorded the song on their 1970 album Burrito Deluxe,[7] and The Byrds, who covered it as the title track of their 1971 album Farther Along.[8]
The song has also been recorded by Hank Williams, Glen Campbell, Florida Boys, Van Dyke Parks, Pete Seeger, Roy Acuff, Johnny Cash, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, Mississippi John Hurt, Bill Anderson, Ellen McIlwaine, Smoking Popes, Josh Garrels, Brad Paisley and the Million Dollar Quartet among others.[6]
In 1987,
References
- ^ "Further Along". Select Hymns for Christian Worship and General Gospel Service. Anderson, IN: Gospel Trumpet. 1911.
- ^ a b c d e Hamrick, David Russell (22 December 2013). "Farther Along". David's Hymn Blog. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
- ISBN 1-58983-171-3.
- ^ Barkley, J. R. (12 May 1938). "Around about America". Moulton Weekly Tribune. p. 2.
- ^ "Author:W. A. Fletcher". Wikisource. 14 November 2008.
- ^ Allmusic. Archived from the originalon November 8, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ISBN 0-9529540-1-X.
- ^ "Top Single Pick" (PDF). Billboard. July 13, 1974. p. 47.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
- ^ Grammy Awards 1975. awardsandshows.com. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
- ^ "Farther Along - Josh Garrels". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
- ^ "Farther Along: Florida Boys, Brad Paisley Versions". December 2010.
External links
- "Farther Along" - Lyrics