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Paths of Victory Lyrics

Trails of troubles
Roads of battles
Paths of victory
I shall walk

The trail is dusty
And my road it might be rough
But the better roads are waiting
And boys it ain't far off

Trails of troubles
Roads of battles
Paths of victory
We shall walk

I walked down by the river
I turned my head up high
I saw that silver linin'
That was hangin' in the sky

Trails of troubles
Roads of battles
Paths of victory
We shall walk

The evenin' dusk was rollin'
I was walking down the track
There was a one-way wind a-blowin'
And it was blowin' at my back

Trails of troubles
Roads of battles
Paths of victory
We shall walk

The gravel road is bumpy
It's a hard road to ride
But there's a clearer road a-waitin'
With the cinders on the side

Trails of troubles
Roads of battles
Paths of victory
We shall walk

That evening train was rollin'
The hummin' of its wheels
My eyes they saw a better day
As I looked across the fields

Trails of troubles
Roads of battles
Paths of victory
We shall walk

The trail is dusty
The road it might be rough
But the good road is a-waitin'
And boys it ain't far off

Trails of troubles
Roads of battles
Paths of victory
We shall walk
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Cover art for Paths of Victory lyrics by Bob Dylan

Does anyone know the origin of this song? I have several versions of this song in my collection. (Unfortunately, I am not near the collection so I don't have the details). One version is by Hedy West called "Pans of Biscuits." Same tune, but thelyrics describe the backbreaking life of a farmer. It's on a Smithsonian folk song collection, recorded in the early 1960's. According to the notes she learned from her great uncle who learned it circa 1880. Great version. I have another version of the song from a bluegrass collection - can't remeber the artist- Wilma Lee? Maybe from the 1960's . It's called "Palms of Viictory". Not sure how similar the lyrics are to this version.
In the early days Bob was known for "reinterpreting" folk songs, so I am guessing that this is the case here.

Song Comparison

Palms of Victory is the origin of this song

"Then palms of victory, crowns of glory, Palms of victory I shall wear."

 
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