A new journey
I’m going on a journey, and I’m starting today.
My head is wet, and I’m on my way.
Christ’s mark is on me;
it’s on you, too;
It says he loves me, and he loves you, too!
“I’m Going on a Journey”
Text by Kenneth D. Larkin and Music by Edward V. Bonnemere
One of my favorite hobbies is going down a research rabbit hole where I try to locate the musical background of a hymn. Sometimes, the melody is shared with other hymns or with songs from other musical traditions. When research doesn’t yield a Wikipedia result on the first go, I keep on digging until I find what I’m looking for.
One such recent rabbit hole was finding the background music for “I’m Going on a Journey” (hymn #446 in the red hymnal). What stands out to me most about this hymn is its jazz rhythm. Jazz was influenced by American spirituals, work and freedom songs, ragtime, and vaudeville shows. New Orleans is known to be the birthplace of Jazz. However, during the turn of the century and through the early to mid-1900s, jazz made its way up to the Midwest as African Americans moved up north for jobs and better opportunities. Jazz scenes started to grow in Chicago and Detroit and, eventually, found its way to a little city called Davenport. It was an incredible discovery to learn about Davenport’s jazz scene through Bix Beiderbecke, a white cornet player and composer, who made trips to Chicago and immersed himself in the jazz scene in Chicago.
The melody of “I’m Going on a Journey” was composed by an African American pianist, Edward V. Bonnemere, who worked with the Catholic church, and the text was written by Rev. Kenneth D. Larkin, who was a pastor in the ELCA, originally from Davenport. When I moved from Chicago, the hymn’s first line was like an earworm- I’m going on a journey and I’m starting today- I sang it as I packed boxes and prepared myself for this new experience. The hymn reminds me, not just of the new trips we have in life, but the lifelong and eternal journey we have with God. This journey is full of uncertainty, yet full of grace, love, curiosity, and life together in communion with God and one another. This hymn reminds us of the journey we get to take together as children of God, as I am marked by Christ and you are, too, through the baptismal waters and through the promise that God is on this journey with us. I am thrilled to be part of your journey, dear siblings in Christ.
Listen to two versions of the hymn online: St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Lexington, SC and Halifax Lutheran Church
Marcia Willi
Welcome to our “ little” part of the world, Maddy! May we be as blessed by your journey as you bless us… thanks for the “ history lesson “! Very inspiring
Vicki Felger
Welcome and thank you Maddy! You’ll be a tremendous resource and support of us all at St. Paul’s!
Audrey Keeney
Very interesting connecting this hymn at this time in your life! Love it and looking forward to traveling this time with you – and our life with God.
Marge Magers
Interesting rabbit hole you went down. I’ve been a lifelong member of St. Paul and knew Ken Larkin as well as his sister Joann. I had no idea he penned those words. Thanks for connecting some dots.
Dixie Kutzbach
I love this. I, too, like to find out about the origins of our hymns, and then to think that this one has a Davenport connection! So interesting.
Sheila Mesick
Welcome Maddy! What an appropriate hymn to sing packing for your journey to Davenport during the unpacking.