THE OLD GOSPEL SHIP
Sung by Ruby Vass, Hillsville, VA, coll. A. Lomax

Chorus
I'm goin' ta take a trip on that old gospel ship,
I am going far beyond the sky,
I'm goin' ta shout and sing till heavens ring,
Till I bid the world goodbye.
1
I have good news to bring and that is why I sing,
My joy with you I'll share.
I'm goin' ta take a trip in that old gospel ship
And go sailing through the air.
2
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.

"A gospel song of the type that became popular around the turn of the century. It's earliest copyright claimant is Stamps/Baxter. The image of religion as a vessel sailing to heaven with a cargo of the faithful is a perennial favorite, occurring in old carols and modern songs alike."
Notes to "The Gospel Ship Baptist Hymns & White Spirituals from the Southern Mountains," Alan Lomax, New World Records 80294.

The liner notes for that recording on line, http://www.newworldrecords.org/linernotes/80294.pdf