This is a song labelled American traditional or even a Spiritual and de Luca’s suggestion of “et al” in the authorship correctly suggests multiple versions and disputed origins. There is a detailed article about it all archived at Hymnary.
It is a very Lenten song. Most versions have three verses, the fourth noted here is consoling but somewhat undercuts the whole thrust of the song.
The music is, again traditional called LONESOME VALLEY.
1 Jesus walked this lonesome valley;
He had to walk it by himself.
Oh, nobody else could walk it for him;
He had to walk it by himself.2 We must walk this lonesome valley;
We have to walk it by ourselves.
Oh, nobody else can walk it for us;
We have to walk it by ourselves.3 You must go and stand your trial;
You have to stand it by yourself.
Oh, nobody else can stand it for you;
You have to stand it by yourself.4 Though you walk this lonely valley,
And seem to stand all by yourself,
Yet someone else is always near you:
Our brother Jesus stands himself!
Of course you can just completely rewrite the song:
There is a version with a text by Jack Schrader that cleverly goes from Lent all through Easter in four stanzas, which is available at Hope Publishing:
1 Jesus walked this lonesome valley,
he had to walk it by himself;
O, nobody else could walk it for him,
he had to walk it by himself.
2 Jesus prayed for his disciples;
he prayed alone for you and me.
O, nobody else could bear such sorrow;
he prayed alone for you and me.
3 Jesus died on Calvary's mountain;
he died alone for you and me.
O, nobody else could die for sinners;
he had to die for you and me.
4 Jesus rose from death's dark prison;
he lives again for you and me.
O, nobody else could bring us victory;
he is alive to set us free.
… and then there’s the version from the movie: