Gospel Ship is a song done by the Carters in 1935 and later by the Monroes as "Old Gospel Ship." It is similar to "Have a Feast Tonight" in form and melody.

Myron LeFerve's uncle Vestal was listed as the arranger of the first published versions of the song in 1939. According to the Leferve family the song had been sung for at least one generation and no one knew the authorship. In the book "Turn Your Radio On" Vestal agreed t deed the song to The Happy Goodman's. The author says the song is a slave song brought from Africa (with no documentation). Since the Carters recording preceeded this the whole basis for the article, claims by the Vestals etc. seem meritless. The point is: the song was an old song known for many years (that was in tha late 1930s).

Alan Lomax collected the Old Gosel Ship in the 1930s (pub. in 1942). I can't find my notes on the song he collected. Anyone?

The problem is there are several spirituals and gospel songs called Gospel Ship. It's possible that the song was based on the below song (or vice-versa):


COME, TAKE A TRIP IN MY AIR-SHIP
(Words by Ren Shields. Music by George "Honey Boy" Evans. Copyright 1904)

I love a sailor; the sailor loves me,
And sails ev'ry night to my home.
He's not a sailor that sails o'er the sea,
Or over the wild briny foam;
For he owns and air-ship and sails up on high.
He's just like a bird on the wing,
And when the shadows of evening draw nigh,
He'll sail to my window and sing:

CHORUS: Come, take a trip in my airship. Come, take a sail 'mong the stars.
Come, have a ride around Venus. Come, have a spin around Mars.
No one to watch while we're kissing, no one to see while we spoon,
Come take a trip in my airship and we'll visit the man in the moon.

GOSPEL SHIP- Carter Family 1935

I'm going to take a trip in that old gospel ship
I'm a-going far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing 'til heaven rings
When I bid this world goodbye

I have good news to bring, and that is why I sing
All my joys with you I'll share
I'm going to take a trip in that old gospel ship
And go sailing through the air

I can scarcely wait, I know I won't be late
I'll spend my time in prayer
And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin
And go sailing through the air

If you are ashamed of me, you ought not to be
Yes, you'd better have a care
If too much fault you find, you will sure be left behind
While I'm sailing through the air