Lonesome Valley


Classic 19th century spiritual, perhaps referring to the 4th verse of the 23rd Psalm: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The song is on page 53 of John Wesley Work’s treasure trove of old songs published in 1915. My favorite recording of it is by Pete Seeger.

Lyrics:

[G] You gotta walk that lonesome valley
You gotta [D] walk it by [G] yourself
[C] Ain’t nobody else gonna walk it [G] for you
You gotta walk that lonesome [D] valley by [G] yourself

My mother walked that lonesome valley
She had to walk it by herself
Ain’t nobody else could walk it for her
She had to walk that lonesome valley by herself

Oh you gotta walk that lonesome valley
You gotta walk it by yourself
Ain’t nobody else can walk it for you
You gotta walk that lonesome valley by yourself

My father walked that lonesome valley
He had to walk it by himself
Ain’t nobody else could walk it for him
He had to walk that lonesome valley by himself

You gotta walk that lonesome valley
You gotta walk it by yourself
Ain’t nobody else can walk it for you
You gotta walk that lonesome valley by yourself

Oh Jesus walked that lonesome valley
He had to walk it by himself
Ain’t nobody else could walk it for him
He had to walk that lonesome valley by himself

Oh you gotta to walk that lonesome valley
You gotta walk it by yourself
Ain’t nobody else can walk it for you
You gotta walk that lonesome valley by yourself

Oh you gotta walk that lonesome valley
You gotta walk it by yourself
Ain’t nobody else can walk it for you
You gotta walk that lonesome valley by yourself