I grew up singing the old song “The Glory Land Way” in church. I always liked it because of the upbeat lyrics and the toe-tapping tune.
Since it was first written the song has been sung by many—from church choirs to famous people. A quick search on YouTube will turn up videos of Doyle Lawson, The Chuck Wagon Gang, The Statler Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis and more singing the song.
J.S. Torbett (1868-1941) wrote the song. The TexasEscapes.com website shares the following about Torbett’s life.
James Samuel Torbett was born on March 15, 1868 in Alabama. His father was a Civil War veteran, captured at the battle of Gettysburg. When James was a child the family moved to a farm on Gum Creek near Jacksonville, Texas. Two years later the Torbetts moved again to a 160 acre farm on the banks of Flint Creek, near The Grove, Texas in the central part of the state.
Two women had a profound influence on the life of this young songwriter. One was his mother who taught James the love of poetry. The other was a neighbor, Mrs. Gillespie, who taught him a love for music. Mrs. Gillespie had an organ, and when she played it, James could sometimes hear the sweet sounds drifting through the cedar brakes. He learned to play music on Mrs. Gillespie’s pump organ.
Mrs. Gillespie’s husband Ben led the signing at the Methodist Church on Flint Creek, and when he died, James’ father took over as song leader. Then James and other members of the family joined in. Soon the Torbetts became known as the “Singing Methodists,” and they performed in churches and other venues all over Central Texas.
In 1914, James S. Torbett entered the mercantile business in Gatesville, but he had music in his soul. He carried a small folding organ around with him as he taught music in his off hours to children in The Grove, Eagle Springs, and Gatesville. When he wasn’t teaching or working in the store, he wrote songs. He was always playing around with words and melodies. Even when he was working at the store his mind was on his music.
Torbett sent examples of his work to musician and businessman Virgil Oliver Stamps back in Jacksonville, Texas. Stamps fronted a legendary gospel group called the Stamps Quartet and a groundbreaking gospel music publishing house called the V. O. Stamps Music Company. Later Stamps would partner with J. R. Baxter to form the Stamps-Baxter Music Company with headquarters in Dallas. Stamps-Baxter was the first company to publish some of the most famous songs in the history of gospel music including “Precious Memories,” Farther Along,” and “Just a Talk with Jesus.” Stamps liked Torbett’s compositions, made them a part of the Stamps Quartet repertoire, and included them in hymnals and sheet music published by the company.
Stamps published such Torbett hymns as “Cling to Jesus,” Guiding Star,” and “Will My Soul Be Ready,” but it was the upbeat sing-a-long “Glory-Land Way” that resonated with congregations all across the country and with the music-loving public in general. Like all great hymns, its words and melody are simple, repetitious, catchy, and easy to remember. Its message is moving and uplifting. “Glory-Land Way” first appeared in hymnals in 1924, and continues to be a favorite in the twenty-first century. The Grand Old Opry named it one of the greatest gospel tunes of all time…
—TexasEscapes.com
© Michael Barr
“Hindsights” June 15, 2015 Column
Sources:
The Doctor’s Scrapbook by Dr. J. W. Torbett, Sr., MD (J. S. Torbett’s brother)
1892 Gazetteer for Coryell County
Gatesville Messenger, December 25, 1996
I’m so glad Torbett wrote “The Glory Land Way.” It has brought much joy to me over my life as it has to many others.
While I enjoy pretty much every version of the song I’ve ever heard, I’m partial to Pap and Paul’s.
Things I like about the video:
Paul and Pap’s amazing harmony
Pap’s shining tenor voice
Paul’s awesome flat tip picking
How young my nephews Ben and Mark were
The way Paul looks at Pap as though looking at him will make the harmony better
The way Paul nods at Ben asking him if he’d like to take a break
The way Pap lines out the song for Paul, giving him the first few words of the verses
The way Pap looks up on the last verse when he says soon I shall see him in that home above
Hope you enjoyed the video too and that you have a wonderful Sunday.
Tipper
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SO good !!!
I grew up listening to this old song. I love the song, and Pap, Paul, Ben, and Mark did wonderfully well playing the song. Thank you, Tipper, for posting the touching story and the video of the family singing and playing it on their instruments. God bless you and all the Wilson and Pressley families.
Once again I marvel that you had the foresight to memorialize this sweet music by loved ones on video. What many of us wouldn’t give to have even a minute of footage of those who’ve been lost. This instinct must be the same as when you capture other elders of your community to get their stories and the sound of them on record.
What a blessing. Thank you, Tipper.
I live fairly close (about 15 miles) to The Grove, TX, which is now a ghost town. If I’m not mistaken, Flint Creek was lost to flood waters in the post-war flood control dam construction that created Lake Belton. I did not know that Torbett lived in this area although I’m familiar with the song.
Thanks for the information in today’s post. Pap, Paul and company did a find job.
I also love this old song and Pap and Paul’s version is beautiful! I feel really blessed to have grown up singing these wonderful old songs in church. Nothing like standing and singing out of a hymn book. I guess I am old fashioned, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!!
Gloria if standing up and singing the old time gospel hymns out of a hymn book and hearing an old style sermon makes me old fashion, then I am in the same boat with you. I am thankful to be a lifelong member of a church that still worships like this. Today’s new style of worship is not for me, I went to a service at one of these new style churches and they were popping and giving out bags of popcorn before the worship service started, I thought I was at a movie theater.
The power of music! Honestly, how many sermons do you remember compared to how many hymns?
I don’t think I’ve heard this before. It’s just lovely and I like the tempo.
Sure enjoyed this song this Sunday morning! I grew up singing it! My Daddy always had a singing group and led singing at our Church! Like you, I’m looking forward to seeing Jesus and my Daddy “in that Hime above.” My Mommy is there waiting for me too. Thank you, Tipper!
I’ve loved that old gospel tune for many years. Pap and Paul sung and played it very well.
My husband and I enjoyed the song. Good message to have in your head while on your way to Sunday School and Church today. Have a blessed Sunday everyone.
Oh my goodness! Had me singing and tapping my toe! This brought tears to my eyes Tipper! Priceless!!!
Such a great song. As always enjoy hearing the beautiful harmony of Pap and Paul. What a wonderful way to start a Sunday morning.
Such a smile on my face this morning when I saw the title of the song!! I love, love that old song and count it as one of my favorites I learned as a young child at my Grandparents down south. You just can’t beat Pap and Paul’s singing. I have my Grandmother’s old sacred harp singing book and that song is one I remember so well. My Grandmother played piano and a old pump organ and played piano at Kennedy Chapel, Hopewell Methodist, and any civic function. Glory-land-way was one of their favorites too. Thank you!!! Hope ya all have a beautiful day and a great week ahead!! God Bless!
I love this song!!! It’s message is so wonderful to hear and so simple to remember, thank you for bringing this song to mind!
Each hymnal and the songs in it are a testament to holy inspiration of both the songwriter and the one who set it to music, if that is two or more people. Just as scripture was inspired, so are gospel songs. The words tie directly and indirectly with scripture, a form of singing the bible. That is one major reason they are so enduring, they remain ever-truthful. I love the hymn stories of how songs came to be. One that has really stuck with me is the story of “Blessed Assurance”. Mrs. Knapp played a melody for Fanny Cosby that she said ‘had been running through her head’ and asked Fanny, “What does that sound like?” And Fanny said, “That sounds like blessed assurance.” Thanks, Gaylia, for your story. What a great blessing for the two of you.
Happy Sunday y’all! What a great way to start out the day with a song of praise to glorify our Lord! I always enjoy hearing the songs Pap and Paul use to sing together. Ben and Mark have that musical talent that is very apparent throughout the family. They both play very well and I sure hope they have continued play all the years since this recording, because they are both, like Pap and Paul very talented. Thank you Tipper for sharing your family talent with us. Have a blessed Sunday!
Happy Sunday! God bless!!
Amen…..it is one of my favorite songs too–a great way to start a Sunday. I love all the old hymns–one beautiful memory I have of my mom and I was when she was in the last days of her time here on earth and we just started singing the old old hymns together one after another after another…such a precious time together (if you knew our background of our time together which simply put was filled with strife and anger toward one another then you would know the miracle in us singing together—and laughing and getting along 24/7 the last month of her life….God used that time to heal 60 years of horrible relationship with one another…the last month together wiped away all of our past and truly made us a loving mother and daughter)
Brought tears to my eyes. Family. That sound is as good as it will ever get.
Love this old song! Always been sung at our Baptist Church. Hope to be there today.
You have a great day and thanks for sharing each day with us.
I am a lifelong back pew (50 plus years) sitting Baptist too. Read my reply to Gloria. I like to tease and say visitors are always welcome at a Baptist church just as long as they don’t sit in my pew. If they do, there is going to be a fight!