Lyrics to "Goin' Home," posted by Joe, 29 Jun 97, from the Church Piper, by K. E. MacDonald, are the words in the sheet music composed by Fisher and published by Ditson in 1922.

"Sanitized" versions change the meaning and intent of the lyrics.

In "Songs of Zion," ed. J. Jefferson Cleveland and Verolga Nix, which grew out of the Consultation on the Black Church in Atlanta, 1973, the Section on Worship of the Board of Discipleship has approved "Songs of Zion." The compilation is recommended to United Methodist churches.

Among the recommendations for singing Negro Spirituals are the following;
"Perform these compositions as written; however, many can be improvised to a restricted degree without distorting their overall effect.
Pay close attention to the dialect. Do not change it into correct English or overexaggerate it because both would destroy the intent of the composition as well as its performance.

a. General guidelines to follow when using dialect:
(1) The dialect should be articulated as clearly as you would sing the word in other songs.
(2) The English words "the," "this," and "that" in dialect would become "de," "dis," and "dat." "De" is generally pronounced "dee" before vowels and "duh" before consonants."
Examples are given. It is noted that words are altered to fit the rhythm of the music, e. g. children may become chillun or chil-dun, Lord becomes Lawd, Lo'd, Lohd, etc.
For Gospel songs, "improvisation, both vocal and instrumental, is highly recommended."