EARLY ADVENT
SDAH 444
I’m a pilgrim, and I’m a stranger;
I can tarry, I can tarry but a night;
Do not detain me, for I am going
To where the fountains are ever flowing.
Get the hymn sheet in other keys here
For Worship Leaders
Make each hymn more meaningful with these helpful tools: Short, ready-to-use hymn introductions for church bulletins, multiple ways to introduce a hymn based on your worship theme and in-depth history and insights to enrich your song service.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
I’m a pilgrim, and I’m a stranger;
I can tarry, I can tarry but a night;
Do not detain me, for I am going
To where the fountains are ever flowing.
Refrain
I’m a pilgrim, and I’m a stranger;
I can tarry, I can tarry but a night.
2
There the glory is ever shining!
O, my longing heart, my longing heart is there;
Here in this country so dark and dreary,
I long have wandered forlorn and weary.
3
There’s the city to which I journey;
My Redeemer, my Redeemer is its light!
There is no sorrow, nor any sighing,
Nor any tears there, or any dying.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Heb 11:13; Rev 22:1 (b) Rev 21:26 (c) Rev 21:23, 4 (d) Rev 20:15 (f) Rev 22:3
Author
Mary S.B. Dana (1810-1883)
Year Published
1841
Metrical Number
9.11.10.10.Ref.
Arranged
from an Italian air
I’m a Pilgrim and I’m a Stranger
“I’m a Pilgrim and I’m a Stranger” was a written by a woman who’s life was beset with tragedies; she lost sister, brother, son, and husband in the span of a few years. Instead of getting depressed and hopeless, she turned her attention to prayer and writing and with her words inspired many others.
She wrote many hymns, poems, articles and stories. She sold volumes of them, and one of those hymns is the song we’re learning in this post. This particular hymn encouraged many faithful believers, particularly the alienated Millerites who were feeling isolated from their family, friends, church mates and work mates because of their peculiar faith.
It is truly a blessing when someone else’s tragedy becomes someone else’s encouragement.
In the Shop
Some arrangements and recordings are specially made by Hymns for Worship. For items made by someone else, I get commissions for purchases made through links on this page.
ALMOST HOME: HYMNS ON THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS (PDF)
11 elegant piano arrangements inspired by the hymns sung in the early days of the Seventh-Day Adventist movement.
I am a pilgrim bundle (PDF + MP3)
A 3-page meditative hymn arrangement that slowly builds into a rich climax. You will get both the downloadable PDF copy and recording (.wav file) of the score.
I AM A PILGRIM (PDF)
A 3-page meditative hymn arrangement that slowly builds into a rich climax. You will get only the downloadable PDF copy of the score.
ALMOST HOME: HYMNS ON THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS (DIGITAL)
11 elegant piano arrangements inspired by the hymns sung in the early days of the Seventh-Day Adventist movement. Files are in .wav format.
PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT FOR SDA HYMNAL NOS. 401-450
Perfect for use at church during congregational singing. All accompaniments are digital and in .wav format. Played according to the number of stanzas of the hymns.
Hymn PDF in F, G, Eb, D and C Major
PDF copies of the hymn in different keys to suit different ranges of voice.
