From the recording Ballad Hunter
"Where I’m Bound" came out of a deep dive into the sounds of Blind Willie Johnson and the Carter Family. I’ve always been fascinated by how they could take something so raw and make it hit you right in the soul. This song was inspired by Johnson’s "Trouble Will Soon Be Over" and the Carter Family’s "Can the Circle Be Unbroken."
I’ve always been hooked on those early Carter Family tracks—their melodies are so pure, and the guitar is just enough to carry the weight of the words. There’s something stark and hauntingly beautiful about it, and I wanted to channel that energy into this song. With that in mind, the wax version is just voice and guitar.
But I missed the call and response that Blind Willie Johnson and Willis Harris did on all the Blind Willie Johnson records, so I experimented with recording a whole bunch of extra vocal parts, five in all ranging from low bass through a high tenor that take the song into gospel choir territory at the end.
Lyrics
Where I’m Bound
Won’t be lonely
Where I’m bound
Sure won’t be lonely
Sure won’t be lonely
Where I’m bound
Where I’m bound
Gonna see my mother
Where I’m bound
Gonna see my brother
Where I’m bound
Oh I’m gonna see my family
Won’t be lonely
Where I’m bound
Where I’m bound
To the land of the angels
where I’m bound
I’m gonna find my rest
Where I’m bound
Gonna be bathed in Glory
And it sure won’t be lonely
Where I’m bound
Cover me
In that cold hard clay
Cover me
In the flowers sweet
Save your tears
For another
For I won’t be lonely
Where I’m bound
Save your tears
For another
For I sure won’t be lonely
Where I’m bound