All efforts in research have turned up no information about the origin of this poignant spiritual. Some think it is a White spiritual because it does not appear in any of the books of Negro spirituals, and because it is “through composed” － that is, there is no repetition of musical phrases, which is so characteristic of the Negro songs. Also, its first appearance in print in America was in 1955 in the Chapel Conference Service Songbook, compiled by the chief of chaplains, U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. Hymnologist Leonard Ellenwood believes it is either a modern spiritual or a folk song of later America because of the late date of its appearance in print. 

Whatever its origin, it beautifully reflects the words of Isaiah 63:3-5: “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me. ·.. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me. It is also a poignant reminder that each person will have to stand alone in the day of judgment-we will not be saved because of attachment to a group. One’s personal relationship with God will be the deciding factor. 

The arrangement of the music is by Allen William Foster, a member of the SDAH Committee. He also served on the tunes subcommittee. Born January 1, 1940, at Camden, New Jersey, he received the B.A. from Temple University and the M.A. from Rutgers University. Having been introduced to formal piano study as a young child, Foster later developed a keen interest. in the organ and church music. He continued piano study at Philadelphia Conservatory of Music with Jon Carlin, and organ instruction with W. Franklin Hoxter, noted organ recitalist. For a number of years Foster was employed by the school district of Philadelphia as the coordinator of social services, early childhood division. At the same time his weekends were well filled, since he was organist at Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Church and Pinn Memorial Baptist Church, both in Philadelphia. He and his talented wife, Gwendolyn, worked with the student body at Pine Forge Academy from 1981, leading a choir that was chosen as the official choir for the Pan-American Youth Congress, Mexico City, in 1984. 

Through the years Allen has worked in evangelism with E. E. Cleveland, Luther R. Palmer, Charles D. Brooks, and, in 1982, with SDA General Conference president Neal C. Wilson in the One Thousand Days of Reaping evangelistic crusade in Manila.  A number of his compositions and arrangements have been recorded by well-known choirs and artists, including the Ebenezer SDA Church Choir, on Chapel Records. Foster’s original tunes in SDAH are No. 203, CHALLENGE; No. 298, BRADLEY; and No. 417, FINALLY.