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Bound for the Promised Land/Promised Land/I Am Bound for the Promised Land
SEE ALSO: "I am Bound For the Land of Canaan," "Bound For the Land of Canaan" and "I Am Bound for the Promised Land," "I'm Bound for the Promised Land"
NOTE: "Bound For Canaan's Land" is sometimes substituted for "promised" as is "Bound for the Land of Canaan."
Public Domain Old-Time, Bluegrass/Country Gospel; Lyrics verses: Samuel Stennett 1787; Chorus: Traditional
ARTIST: 1. Harriet Tubman, circa 1840 "Harriet, the Moses of Her People"
2. Bells of Joy
3. George Pullen Jackson: "White And Negro Spirituals"
YOUTUBE: Choral Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pDtCK8Stl4
Hank Williams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbz4hhM-EW8&feature=related
African-American Gospel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTqO67zdQmI&feature=related
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Gospel
DATE: 1782; Recorded S.H, Dudley 1899; Trinity Choir 1905; First Country Recording in 1930 by Primitive Baptist Choir
RECORDING INFO: Bound for the Promised Land/I Am Bound for the Promised Land[Me III-D 48b]
Rt - Sweet Happy Kingdom Land; Promised Land; At The Cross
Sm - Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
Lomax, John A. & Alan Lomax / Folk Song USA, Signet, Sof (1966/1947), # 99 (Bound for the Promised Land)
Lynn, Frank (ed.) / Songs for Swinging Housemothers, Fearon, Sof (1963/1961), p330 (Bound for the Promised Land)
Jackson, George P.(ed.) / Spiritual Folk Songs of Early America, Dover, Sof (1964/1937), p238/#246 (Bound for the Promised Land)
Child, Marilyn; & Glenn Yarborough. Marilyn Child - Glenn Yarborough Sing Folk Songs, Elektra EKL 143, LP (1958), trk# A.04 (Bound for the Promised Land)
Cleland, Becky;, Ben and Wayne Seymour. Down in the Valley to Pray, Kudzu KPP 008, CD (2002), trk# 15 (Bound for the Promised Land)
Gordon, Mrs. W. W.. Solomon, Jack & Olivia (eds.) / Sweet Bunch of Daisies, Colonial Press, Bk (1991), p129 [1975ca] (On Jordan's Stormy Banks)
Holdstock, Carol and Dick. Shanties and Sea Songs from Way Out West, Holdstock HDCD 7, CD (2000), trk# 3 (Bound for the Promised Land)
Karnes, Alfred G.. Bristol Sessions. Vol 2, Country Music Foundation CMF 011C2, Cas (1987), trk# B.09 [1927/07/29]
Karnes, Alfred G.. In the Spirit, Vol. 1, Origin OJL-12, LP (197?), trk# B.07
Reid, Harvey; and Joyce Andersen. Kindling the Fire, Woodpecker WP 118CD, Cas (2004), trk# 11 (Bound for the Promised Land)
Wilbur, Marie. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p 62/#624 [1924/01/02] (I'm Bound for the Promise
OTHER NAMES: "I Am Bound for the Promised Land," "I'm Bound for the Promised Land," "Promised Land," "On Jordan's Stormy Banks,"
SOURCES: Folk Index; Meade; Heavenly Highway Hymns, Stamps-Baxter, 1956
NOTES: "Bound for the Promised Land" or "I Am Bound For The Promised Land" or "Promised Land" is a gospel hymn recorded by Johnny Cash and Hank Williams and is an African-American spiritual.
The original text for the verses of "Bound for the Promised Land" was written by Samuel Stennett (1717-1795). It first appeared in the Selection of Hymns compiled in 1787 at London, England, by John Rippon (1751-1836). Four of Stennett's stanzas beginning, "On Jordan's Stormy Banks," are usually used in most of our books with another tune composed in 1877 by Tullius Clinton O'Kane. The older, and perhaps generally better known, tune (Promised Land) is usually identified as an old traditional American melody or folk hymn and was found in many of the oblong tune collections of the shaped note tradition which were widely used in the southern part of this country in the early part of the nineteenth century.
The country gospel roots of this song began in 1927 when Alfred G. Karnes recorded his version to the tune of "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down." Karnes, a guitarist and singer, was a Baptist minister from Bedford, Virginia. Hank Williams' live version can be heard on youtube (see link above) and the gospel hymn ws also recorded by Johnny Cash.
The first published version with the folk chorus was in the 1835 Southern Harmony edited by William Walker (1809-1875). There, it was attributed to a "Miss M. Durham," about whom no other information has been found to establish this composer's identity. Some sources give the name as Mathilda Durham. Originally in the key of f-sharp minor, it was altered to F-major and the refrain added, perhaps as early as 1874, by Rigdon McCoy McIntosh (1836-1899). This arrangement seems to have been first published in 1895 by Harvey R. Christie in his Gospel Light. Christie was a well-known singing teacher among Christian churches and churches of Christ. The alteration has enjoyed immense popularity as a hymn tune.
In his book Hymns and History, Forrest M. McCann wrote that the original hymn "consisted of eight 4-line stanzas, according to William J. Reynolds. I have been unable to find the eighth." However, in doing research and looking through The Good Old Songs compiled in 1913 by C. H. Cayce, who had a publishing company among the Primitive Baptists, I found eight stanzas. Whether the eighth was from Stennett or added from some other source, I cannot tell. What I propose to do in this hymn study is to examine those stanzas which are not in O'Kane's version and thus not as well-known but can be sung to this same tune. In fact, given the original number of stanzas, there could be two completely separate songs with no overlapping.
Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord's church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, "I Am Bound for the Promised Land" appeared in the 1937 Great Songs of the Church No. 2 (as an alternate tune) edited by E. L. Jorgenson; the 1935 Christian Hymns (No. 1), the 1948 Christian Hymns No. 2, and the 1966 Christian Hymns No. 3 all edited by L. O. Sanderson; and the 1963 Christian Hymnal edited by J. Nelson Slater. Today it may be found in the 1971 Songs of the Church, the 1990 Songs of the Church 21st C. Ed., and the 1994 Songs of Faith and Praise all edited by Alton H. Howard; the 1977 Special Sacred Selections edited by Ellis J. Crum; the 1978/1983 Church Gospel Songs and Hymns edited by V. E. Howard; the 1986 Great Songs Revised edited by Forrest M. McCann; and the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand; in addition to Hymns for Worship and the 2007 Sacred Songs of the Church edited by William D. Jeffcoat. Most of these books also have the O'Kane tune as well.
I Am Bound For The Promised Land- Rev. Samuel Stennett, Miss M. Durham, arranged by Rigdon McCoy McIntosh
On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.
Refrain
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
Oh who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
O the transporting, rapturous scene,
That rises to my sight!
Sweet fields arrayed in living green,
And rivers of delight!
Refrain
There generous fruits that never fail,
On trees immortal grow;
There rocks and hills, and brooks and vales,
With milk and honey flow.
Refrain
O'er all those wide extended plains
Shines one eternal day;
There God the Son forever reigns,
And scatters night away.
Refrain
No chilling winds or poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness and sorrow, pain and death,
Are felt and feared no more.
Refrain
When I shall reach that happy place,
I'd be forever blest,
For I shall see my Father's face,
And in His bosom rest.
Refrain
Filled with delight my raptured soul
Would here no longer stay;
Though Jordan's waves around me roll,
Fearless I'd launch away.
Refrain
SACRED HARP- 128 The Promised Land
Tune: M. Durham, 1835; Words: Samuel Stennett, 1787;
Meter: Common Meter (8,6,8,6)
On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye,
To Canaan’s fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.
Chorus:
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land,
Oh, who will come and go with me,
I am bound for the promised land.
Oh, the transporting, rapt’rous scene,
That rises to my sight,
Sweet fields arrayed in living green,
And rivers of delight.
(Chorus)
Filled with delight, my raptured soul
Would here no longer stay!
Though Jordan’s waves around me roll,
Fearless I’d launch away.
(Chorus)
(No Title) THE REVIVALIST: A NEW SELECTION OF HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS,WASHINGTON GLASS - 1853; Page 79
1. Of Jesus Christ I'm not ashamed,
Although I am a child;
My soul, through grace, he has reclaimed,
By sin 'twas all defiled.
CHORUS: I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land!
0 who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
2. Not fourteen years have rolled away,
Since first I drew my breath;
O Lord sustain my vows to-day,
And keep me firm till death.
Chorus
3. Companions, dear, it grieves my heart
To leave you still in sin;
Farewell, farewell, I must depart,
And heavenly glories win.
Chorus
African-American Spiritual Versions:
The famous chorus "I'm bound for de promised land" was reposted by Hudson as a blackface minstrel song. Because of it's popularity it was used as a refrain:
I'll meet you in de mornin',
When you reach de promised land
Similar refrains were used in related songs such as "Bound for Canaan's land," and "I'm on my way to the Kingdom Land," from which related songs have formed. Various African-American versions appeared usually based on the standard chorus.
The following lyrics were taken from Harriet Tubman, circa 1840 "Harriet, the Moses of Her People:"
"I'll meet you in de mornin',
When you reach de promised land;
On de oder side of Jordan,
For I'm boun' for de promised land."
Here "boun' for de promised land" is used as a refrain or tag line (repeated part), a common technique found in spirituals. On the day of her planned escape with her brothers (ca 1840), Ms. Tubman thought it only fitting to bid a proper farewell to those persons whom she might never see again (Bradford 27). These are the words she sang on that fateful day:
BOUN' FOR DE PROMISED LAND- Tubman- Circa 1840
When dat ar ole chariot comes,
I’m gwine to lebe you,
I’m boun’ for de promised land,
Frien’s, I’m gwine to lebe you.
I’m sorry, frien’s, to lebe you,
Farewell! Oh, farewell!
But I’ll meet you in de mornin’,
Farewell! Oh, farewell!
I’ll meet you in de mornin’,
When you reach de promised land;
On de oder side of Jordan,
For I’m boun’ for de promised land (Bradford 28).
A similar version to Jackson's (below) is found in the 1915 book, "Signs is signs" Page 195:
Some were weeping, others screaming as they joined in the rhythm, swaying their bodies back and forth. Aunt Hannah's voice could be heard above all the rest. Some one raised the hymn:
"Oh who will cum and go wid me,
I am boun' fo' de Promis' Lan'-e-an,
I am bound f o' de Promis' Lan'-e-an'!
Gird up yo' loins and go wid me,
Fer I'm bound fer de Promis' Lan'-e-an',
I'm bound fer de Promis' Lan'."
A more modern version of "I Am Bound for the Promised Land" is made by the Bells of Joy on the Wildcat label in 1958. It's a call and response song with the chorus and two variants (verses):
I AM BOUND FOR THE PROMISED LAND- Bells of Joy 1958
ALL SING: I am bound, for the promised land,
I am bound, for the promised land,
I wonder who, will come and go with me,
I am bound, for the promised land.
LEAD/GROUP: I am bound (I am bound for) for the promised land (promised land),
I am bound (I am bound for) for the promised land (promised land),
I wonder who (wonder who) will come and go with me (go with me),
I am bound (I am bound for) for the promised land (promised land).
VERSE: I said I have, a loving mother,
Over in, that promised land
I don't expect to see to see now
But I'll meet her in the promised land
VERSE: You know I used to have a loving mother,
Who used to walk and talk with me
Now she's gone, on in glory
I know she's there, in the promised land
The spiritual was collected in Ballanta's "St. Helena Island Spirituals" p. 36. Jackson quotes the version and compares it to the 1844 Georgia Sacred Harp Version p. 128 which is in F minor.
BOUND FOR THE PROMISED LAND- Jackson 1934/Ballanta's "St. Helena Island Spirituals" p. 36
I am boun' fo' de promis' lan',
I am boun' fo' de promis' lan',
O won't yo' rise an' go wid me?
I am boun' fo' de promis' lan'.
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