All My Trials

Album: Tripping the Live Fantastic: Highlights! (1990)
Charted: 35
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a traditional Bahamian ballad from the 19th century, which offered a message of hope that however bad the trial he or she was facing there was a promise of liberty and freedom in the afterlife. It was based on Biblical passages such as Revelations 21 v4 where there is the promise that "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
  • By the 1950s the song had become popular in the American south and in the early 1960s it was a staple of the folk revival. Among the artists to have recorded the song are Harry Belafonte, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul and Mary.
  • This was one of the songs featured in the medley "An American Trilogy" sung by Elvis Presley in concerts in the 1970s together with "Dixie" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."
  • Paul McCartney has stated on several occasions how he was inspired by Joan Baez's version of "All My Trials" when he wrote the chord change from D to Ami in the A-section of the 1963 Beatles song "I'll Get You."
  • When Paul McCartney released his live version of this song, some commentators took it to be a protest against cash cuts by the Conservative government in the National Health Service.
  • McCartney's version of this song can only be found on the abridged Tripping the Live Fantastic: Highlights! album (not available in the US), it can't be found on the original album.

Comments: 3

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 16, 1964, Dick and DeeDee's "All My Trails" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #89, and that was also it's peak position on the chart, the following two weeks it was at #91 and then it fell off the Top 100...
    Between 1961 and 1965 the duo had eight Top 100 records; with one making the Top 10, "Mountain's High" at #2* {for 2 weeks} in 1961...
    Dick St. John passed away on December 27th, 2003 at the age of 63 {an accidental fall}...
    May he R.I.P.
    * The two weeks "The Mountain's High" was at #2, the #1 record for both those weeks was "Take Good Care of My Baby" by Bobby Vee.
  • Tom from Wayne, NjRay Stevens also did a cover version which peaked at #70 in August of 1971 --Tom,Wayne,NJ
  • Martin from Pattaya, ThailandThe Searchers did a really nice version of this on their Sugar & Spice Album in 1963, very laid-back
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.