“It’s a Long Way” has been set to music – twice

In the novel Dual Memory, the main character, Anton, has a favorite song, “It’s a Long Way.” I knew that the words came from a poem by William Stanley Beaumont Braithwaite. Later I learned the poem has actually been set to music twice.

Which would be Anton’s favorite version? I’m not sure. Since the poem is in the public domain, you can write your own version, too. Let me know if you do.

William Stanley Braithwaite (December 6, 1878 – June 8, 1962) was an African-American writer, poet, literary critic, anthologist, and publisher in the United States. His work as an anthologist helped develop East Coast poetry styles in the early 20th century. He was also key in publishing Harlem Renaissance poets and bringing them a wider audience. He was awarded the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal for distinguished achievements in literature in 1918.

In 2020, the Skylark Vocal Ensemble commissioned Nell Shaw Cohen to compose music for the poem. You can see the concert film and learn more here:

It’s a Long Way (2020)

Braithwaite’s poem has also been made into a hymn set to Mercer’s Cluster: