An adaptation of a North Carolina folk tune by John Jacob Niles (1892-1980), the American balladeer and collector of folk music. Niles is said to have paid the young girl whom he first heard singing the song 25¢ to repeat it until he had written it down. Among his other songs are “Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair” and “Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head”. Late in life he turned to art song, writing oratorio and music based on the poetry of the mystic and monk Thomas Merton.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor or’n’ry people like you and like I.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus, ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all;
But high from God’s heaven, a star’s light did fall
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky or a bird on a wing
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing —
He surely could have it, ’cause He was the King.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor or’n’ry people like you and like I.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.