The song of the day for Sunday, September 7, 2025, is “De Glory Road.”

About This Song

“De Glory Road” began as a poem written by a white, socialist, native Alabamian lawyer and writer named Clement Wood, who published the poem in 1928. Wood is also the author of the Clement Wood Rhyming Dictionary, the 1939 edition of which was Stephen Sondheim’s preferred rhyming dictionary that he used for his entire career.

Jacques Wolfe was a Jewish Romanian-born composer who discovered African-American music while serving in the Army during World War I. In 1928, Wolfe wrote the music for Wood’s Three Negro Poems which included “De Glory Road.” Wolfe later worked with Langston Hughes and composed for a 1938 musical, John Henry, which starred Paul Robeson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “De Glory Road” on March 13, 1962, for the album On The Glory Road. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra. The album release was canceled at the last minute, though some of the recordings were used on later albums. Fortunately, On The Glory Road was released as part of the 2011 Complete Collection box set and is also available on streaming services.

“De Glory Road,” as well as On the Glory Road, is available on Apple Music.