Elizabeth Alexander

Seafarer Presswww.seafarerpress.com

SEA-075-00 $3.00

Winner of the Athena Festival Almquist Award

The Journey( “I’ll Go Alone” )

Evelyn Dudley

TTBB a cappella

“When Cincinnati Men's Chorus decided to toast "The Women We Love" with a concertdevoted to a bevy of strong women, they asked me to write a new work for the concert, onewhich would celebrate the life and spirit of Coretta Scott King. The process of writing thiswork took me on my own surprising journey, beginning with the search for a text.

The first writings for which I sought to secure permission were by well known writers, whicheventually led to insurmountable roadblocks, first from a publisher and then from lawyers. Deciding to take a different tack altogether, I called Dorothy Cotton, an old friend who hadbeen active in the civil rights movement, and who had attended Mrs. King's memorial service. Dorothy sent me a copy of the program, which contained a personal reflection by Evelyn K.Dudley, who cared for Mrs. King during the last months of her life.

Rather than placing one individual on a pedestal, Evelyn Dudley's writing speaks to the difficultjourney inherent in any life lived with integrity, a journey taken by the rich and disinherited, thepowerful and disempowered, the famous and the unsung. This song celebrates not only CorettaScott King's accomplishments, but also the faith and tenacity of courageous people everywhere. Adapting her words into a lyric for this song was, for me, a labor of love.

A quite surprising aspect of this song is that the words found their way into a style I’d neverwritten in before, a soulful idiom reminiscent of mountain gospel — a language from mychildhood in Appalachian Ohio, a hundred miles upriver from Cincinnati.” -E.A. 2007

The JourneyAdapted lyric for Musical Setting

(For Evelyn Dudley’s original unabridged version, see inside of back cover)

I'll go alone if I have to.

If you're behind me when I begin this journey, stay there, for you will only hinder me.I'll go alone if I have to.

My footprints will vanish from this trail someday, but the seeds that I sow will remain and grow.The fragrance from the fruit that is borne will draw those who hunger and thirst, those who seek God in Spirit and Truth.I'll go alone if I have to.

For at the end of this journey waits a festive table filled with blessings and prayers that I prayed and had forgotten.Have your fill of these blessings!

Oh, I am tired from the journey, and Jesus bids me rest.And I will sit on the porch of the kingdom,And realize the destination was no more important than the journey.

I'll go alone if I have to. On this journey, I'll go alone.

Original text copyright 1998 © by Evelyn K. DudleyAdapted text © 2007 by Elizabeth Alexander, for use in musical setting only.

(h = 56-60) Evelyn K. Dudley

© 2007 by Elizabeth Alexander

Commissioned by Cincinnati Men's Chorus, Patrick O. Coyle conductor

The Journey(I'll Go Alone)

Elizabeth Alexander

Solo

T I

T II

B I

B II

Baritone

Solo #1: mp

I'll go

a lone

- if I have

to,

I'll go a lone,-

If

I

5

Ten.Solo

B I

B II

have

to

I'll go,

I'll

go a lone,

-

I'll

p

go

a lone,

-

I'll go,

I'll go

a lone,-

I'll

p

go

a lone,

-

I'll go,

I'll go

a lone,-

9

Ten.Solo

B I

B II

Solo #2: mp

I'll go

a lone

- if I have

to,

I'll go a lone,-

If I have

to I'll go

I'll

go

a lone,-

If I have

to I'll go

I'll

go a lone,-

13

Ten.Solo

B I

B II

a lone,-

I'll

go

on the jour

ney- a lone.-

on the jour

ney- a lone,-

I'll go a lone,

-

a lone,-

go

a lone,-

I'll

go

on the jour

ney- a lone,-

I'll go a lone,

-

a lone,-

16

Ten.Solo

T I

T II

B I

B II

Solo #3: mp

I'll lay

a

side

- ev’

ry

- sin,

ev’

ry

- weight

which

may

be

set- me,

ev’

pry

- weight

which

may

be

set- me,

If

I

Oh,

p ev’ ry

- weight

which

may

be

set

- me.

Oh,

ev’ev’

ry

-- weight

which

may

be

set

- me.

Oh,

ev’

ry

- weight

which

may

be

set

- me.

21

T I

T II

B I

B II

have

to,

I'll

go

a lone,

-

mp If

you're

be

-

I'll go

a lone,

-

a lone,-

I'll

go

a

lone,

- a

lone,-

mp

If

you're

be

-

I'll go

a lone,

-

a lone,-

I'll

go

a

lone,

- a

lone.-

mp If

you're

be

-

I'll go

a lone,

-

a lone,-

I'll

go

a

lone,

- a

lone.-

mp If

you're

be

-

2

25

BassSolo

T I

T II

B I

B II

Solo #4: mfFor

you

will

hind

me

when I

be gin- my jour

ney,

-

mf

stay

there,

hind

me

when I

be gin- my jour

ney

-

mf

stay

there,

hind

me

when I

be gin- my jour

ney-

mf

stay

there,

hind

me

when I

be gin- my jour

ney-

mf

stay

there,

29

BassSolo

T I

T II

B I

B II

on

ly

- hin

der- me,

I'll

go

a

lone,

-

I'll

go

a lone,-

Oh,

p

I'll go

a lone

- if I have

to,

Oh,

p

Oh,

p

I'll go

a lone

- if I have

to,

3

33

BassSolo

T I

T II

B I

B II

I'll

go a lone,-

if I have

I'll

p

go

a lone

- if I have

I'll go

a lone

- if I have

to.

I'll go

a lone

- if I have

I'll go

a lone

- if I have

I'll go

a lone

- if I have

to.

I'll go

a lone

- if I have

36

BassSolo

T I

T II

B I

B II

to

to.

My

mf resolutelyfoot

prints

- will

van

ish

- from this

trail

some

day

to.

Oh,

mf resolutely

my foot

prints

- will

van

ish

- from this

trail

some

day

to,

Oh,

mf resolutely

my foot

prints

- will

van

ish

- from

this

trail

some

to,

My

mf resolutely

foot

prints

- will

van

ish

- from

this

trail

some

4

Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret & George Alexander, parents B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous

web designer B Scott Bates, poet B Abbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael

deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey,

poet B Emily Dickinson, poet B Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer

B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher,

composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web

designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa,

composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet

B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf

Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven

Stucky, composer/teacher B Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John

Greenleaf Whittier, poet B Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood,

poet B Yehudi Wyner, composer/teacher B Paul Adams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret &

George Alexander, parents B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B

Abbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray

Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily Dickinson, poet

B Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer

B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike,

proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill,

composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher

B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen,

artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald

Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven Stucky, composer/teacher B

Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John Greenleaf Whittier, poet B

Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood, poet B Yehudi Wyner,

composer/teacher B Paul Adams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret & George Alexander, parents

B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B Abbie Betinis,

composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B

Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily Dickinson, poet B Evelyn Dudley, poet

B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet

B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper,

technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet

B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller

B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J.

David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

(YOU KNOW WHY.)

A COMPLETE PERUSAL COPY MAY BE PURCHASED

FROM ELIZABETH ALEXANDER AT

Seafarer PressSeafarer PressSeafarer PressSeafarer Presswww.seafarerpress.com

A LOT OF HARD WORK &CREATIVITY

WENT INTO BRINGING

THIS MUSIC TO YOU...

...AND SOME OF IT

WAS EVEN MINE.

53

T I

T II

B I

B II

God

in

Spi

- rit,

in

Spi

rit

- and

in

God

in

Spi

rit,

- in

Spi

rit

- and

in

God

in

Spi

rit,

- in

Spi

rit

- and

in

God

in

Spi

rit,

- in

Spi

rit

- and

in

57

Bar.Solo

T I

T II

B I

B II

Solo #5: mf

I'll go

a lone

- if I have

to,

I'll go a lone,-

Truth,

a

lone,

-

I

will

Truth,

a

lone,

-

I

will

Truth,

a

lone,

-

I

will

Truth,

a

lone,

-

I

will

6

61

Ten.Solo

T I

T II

B I

B II

Solo #6: mf

I'll

go

a lone-

up on-

the

jour

ney,-

go

a

lone

- up

on

- the

jour

ney-

go

a

lone

- on

the

jour

ney,-

I'll go a

-

go

a

lone

- on

the

jour

ney,-

I'll go a

-

go

on

the

jour

ney,-

I'll go a

-

64

T I

T II

B I

B II

For

at

the

end

mfof this jour

ney- waits a fes

tive

- ta

-

lone,

At

mf

the end

of this jour

ney- waits a fes

tive

- ta

-

lone,

For

at

the

end

mfof this jour

ney- waits a fes

tive

- ta

-

lone,

For

at

thethe

end

mf

of thes

ney waits a fes

tive

- ta

-

7

67

T I

T II

B I

B II

ble

- filled

with

bless

ings,

- filled

with

bless ings- and prayers

that I prayed

ble

- filled

with

bless

ings,

- filled

with

bless ings- and prayers

that I prayed

ble

- filled

with

bless

ings,

- filled

with

bless ings- and prayers

that I prayed

- ble

filled

with

bless

ings,

- filled

with

bless ings- and prayers

that I prayed

70

T I

T II

B I

B II

and I had

for

got- ten,

-

Have

fyour

3

fill

of

these

3

bless

ings,

-

and I had

for

got

- ten,

-

f

Have

your

3

fill

of

these

3

bless

ings,

-

and I had

for

got

- ten,

- Oh,

have

fyour

3

fill

of

these

3

bless

ings,

- have

your

and I had

for

got

- ten,

- Oh,

have

f

your

3

fill

of

these

3

bless

ings,

- have

your

3

3

3

3

74

T I

T II

B I

B II

have your fill

of these bless

ings,

-

have

mfyour

have your fill

of these bless

ings,

-

mfHave

your

fill,

have

your

fill,

your fill

of these bless

ings,

-

mfHave your

fill,

have

you

fill,

your fill

of these bless

ings,

-

8

77

T I

T II

B I

B II

fill

of

these

bless

ings

- and prayers,

Oh,

mpI am

fill

of

these

bless

ings

- and

prayers,

Oh,

I

mp

am

fill

of

these

bless

ings

- and

prayers,

Oh,

I

mp

am

Oh,

I

mp

am

mp

81

T I

T II

B I

B II

tired

from

the

jour

ney,

-

I

am tired,

and

tired

from

the

jour

ney,

-

I

am tired,

and

tired

from

the

jour

ney,

-

I

am

tired,

and

tired

from

the

jour

ney,

- Oh,

I

am

tired,

and

85

T I

T II

B I

B II

Je

sus

- bids

me

rest.

Je

sus

-

bids

me

rest.

And

with energy

I will

Je

sus

-

bids

me

rest,

bids

me

rest,

And

with energyI

will

Je

sus

- bids

me

rest,

And

with energy

I

will

9

89

T I

T II

B I

B II

sit

mf with energy

on the porch

of the king

-

sit on the porch

of the king

dom,

-

sit

mf

on the porch

of the king

-

sit on the porch

of the king

- dom,

sit

mf

on the porch

of the king

-

sit on the porch

of the king

- dom,

I'll

mf

sit on the porch

of the king

-

92

T I

T II

B I

B II

dom,

-

on

the

porch

of

the

king

dom

- and

rest.

dom,

-

on

the

porch

of

the

king

dom

- and

rest,

I

will

dom,

-

on

the

porch

of

the

king

dom

and

rest,

will

dom,

- on

the

porch

of

the

king

dom

- and

rest.

96

T I

T II

B I

B II

ten. And

mpre

a- lize-

the

des

tin

- a

- tion

-

rest.

ten.

And

mp

re

a

- - lize

- the

des

tin

- a

-

- -

rest.

ten. And

mpre

a

- - lize

- the

des

tin

- a

- tion

-

ten.

And

mpre

a

- - lize

- the

des

tin

- a

- - -

10

Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret & George Alexander, parents B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous

web designer B Scott Bates, poet B Abbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael

deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey,

poet B Emily Dickinson, poet B Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer

B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher,

composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web

designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa,

composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet

B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf

Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven

Stucky, composer/teacher B Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John

Greenleaf Whittier, poet B Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood,

poet B Yehudi Wyner, composer/teacher B Paul Adams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret &

George Alexander, parents B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B

Abbie Betinis, composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray

Bradbury, writer B Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily Dickinson, poet

B Evelyn Dudley, poet B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer

B Pesha Gertler, poet B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike,

proofreader B Steve Harper, technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill,

composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher

B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen,

artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J. David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald

Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King Sigismund III, religious reformer B Steven Stucky, composer/teacher B

Rabindranath Tagore, poet B Howard Thurman, civil rights leader/writer B John Greenleaf Whittier, poet B

Theodore Chickering Williams, poet B Daniel Winter, pianist/teacher B Nancy Wood, poet B Yehudi Wyner,

composer/teacher B Paul Adams, technical advisor B Opal Palmer Adisa, poet B Margaret & George Alexander, parents

B Yehuda Amichai, poet B Bjorn Arneson, generous web designer B Scott Bates, poet B Abbie Betinis,

composer/colleague B Dennis Blubaugh, music dealer B Michael deVernon Boblett, poet B Ray Bradbury, writer B

Norbert Capek, visionary B e. e. cummings, poet B Philip Dacey, poet B Emily Dickinson, poet B Evelyn Dudley, poet

B Rob Eller-Isaacs, minister/writer B Sophia Lyon Fahs, writer B Richard M. Fewkes, writer B Pesha Gertler, poet

B Richard S. Gilbert, minister/writer B Jack Gallagher, composer/teacher B Paul Gerike, proofreader B Steve Harper,

technical advisor B Steve Hawkins, generous web designer B Edie Hill, composer/colleague B Langston Hughes, poet

B Mark Humphrey, piano technician B Karel Husa, composer/teacher B Kalidasa, poet B Garrison Keillor, storyteller

B Denise Levertov, poet B George Ella Lyon, poet B Jonathan Machen, artist B Edna St. Vincent Millay, poet B J.

David Moore, composer/colleague B Joan Wolf Prefontaine, poet B Gerald Rich, poet B Carl Sandburg, poet B King

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

(YOU KNOW WHY.)

A COMPLETE PERUSAL COPY MAY BE PURCHASED

FROM ELIZABETH ALEXANDER AT

Seafarer PressSeafarer PressSeafarer PressSeafarer Presswww.seafarerpress.com

A LOT OF HARD WORK &CREATIVITY

WENT INTO BRINGING

THIS MUSIC TO YOU...

...AND SOME OF IT

WAS EVEN MINE.

107

T I

T II

B I

B II

I'll

mf

go

a lone

- if I have

I'll

mf

go

a lone

- if I have

to,

I'll go a lone,-

I'll

mf

go

a lone

- if I have

to,

I'll go a lone,-

110

T I

T II

B I

B II

to,

I'll go a lone,-

a lone

- I will go,

if

I

on the jour

ney- I'll go,

I will go,

I will go,

if

I

I

will

go

on the jour

ney- a lone,-

I will go,

I will go,

if

I

Imf

will

go

a

lone,

- I'll

go,

if

I

12

113

T I

T II

B I

B II

have

to

I'll

go

a

lone,

f- a

lone,

- a

-

have

to

I'll

go

a

lone,

f- I'll

go

a

lone,

- I'll

go

a

-

have to I'll go,

I will go

on the jour

- ney a lone,-

f I'll

go

a

lone,

-

have

to I'll go,

I will go

on the jour

- ney a lone,-

f

a

lone,

- I'll

go

a

-

117

BassSolo

T I

T II

B I

B II

Solo #7(or small group): f

I'll

go a lone,-

lone,

I'll

go

a

lone,

-

lone,

I'll

go

a

lone,

- I'll

go

a

lone,

-

I'll go

a lone,

-

I'll go

a lone,

-

I'll go

a lone,

-

lone,

I'll

go

a

lone,

- I'll

go

a

lone,

-

13

120

Ten.Solo

Bar.Solo

BassSolo

T I

T II

B I

B II

Solo #9: fI'll

go a lone-

on the jour

ney,

-

Solo #8(or small group) : f

I'll

go a lone,-

Solo #10: mfI

will

I'll

go

a

lone,

- -

I'll

go

a

lone,

- -

I'll

go

a

lone,

- -

*

I'll

go

a

lone,

- -

* For better balance, some 2nd tenors may want to sing with the baritones on the three 3-part chords in mm.123-125.

14

124

Ten.Solo

Bar.Solo

BassSolo

T I

T II

B I

B II

Solo #12: mpI

will

go

a

lone,

-

go,

Solo #11: mf

I

will go,

I'll

go

a

lone,

- -

I'll

go

a

lone,

- -

I'll

go

a

lone,

- -

I'll

go

a

lone,

- -

rallentando poco a poco128

Bar.Solo

T I

T II

B I

B II

On

pthis

jour

ney,

-

I'll

go

a lone,

-

a

lone,

- - a

pp

lone,

- -

a

lone,

- - a

pp

lone,

- -

a

lone,

- - a

pp

lone,

- -

a

lone,

- - a

pp

lone,

- -

15

The Journey

Original version by Evelyn K. Dudley

First printed as Memorial Service Program Insert for Coretta Scott King

I’ll go alone if I have to. I’ll lay aside every sin and weight which so easily besetme. So if you’re behind me when I begin this journey, stay there, for you willonly hinder me.

In my basket, in case you are wondering, are seeds to be sown. You see, this is aroad less traveled and only a few they’ll be that will find it. My footprints willsomeday vanish from this trail, but the seeds I sow will grow and bear fruit thatwill remain. The fragrance from this fruit will draw hungry souls to sojourn withme, as we all seek God in Spirit and Truth.

Dust from this road tempts my thirst, but it is not mere water that I thirst for. Thecup of destiny contains the substance that will quench my thirst, so only fromdestiny’s cup will I drink.

Eternity has allowed me only a few moments in time, so I must be about myFather’s business and find my way back to where I belong. My steps are orderedtowards a destination that has been waiting for me since the laying of the world’sfoundation. If I deviate from this journey, I’ll only delay my arrival.

Although my feet are shod with preparation, they still grow weary, so I muststand on the promises of God to gain strength for miles of this road leftuntrodden.

At the end of this journey waits a festive table filled with blessings and prayersthat I prayed and had forgotten. Have your fill of these blessings! Divide themamong my progeny to the fourth and fifth generation. For along the way, I’veeaten of bread you know not of. I am full.

Tired from my journey, Jesus bids me to rest and extends His hands with aninvitation. I’ll gladly accept and sit on the porch of the Kingdom to recap mytravels, and realize that this journey was just as important as the destination.

Copyright by Evelyn K. Dudley. Used by permission of the author.