Susan and Fr.Greg,

Thank you for your thoughts. They are very helpful to me! I do think that the palms of victory are a parousia image:
Revelation 7:9   

The Great Multitude in White Robes
9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

(New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

But I agree that the keys to Bethlehem are Messianic. Of course these are not mutually exclusive, as Jesus is our key to eternal life.
This song is in Ruth Crawford Seeger's Book, American Folk Songs for Children, and on the CD. It is a very lively, joyful song, which is why I want to sing it with the children. It is also noted that you can substitute any other name and continue the song that way. I can send you the page from the book if you like.

There is another song Singing in the Land, that sounds like it, though it is not as evocative in words.

I feel the same way about spirituals as I do about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, they evangelize everyone!

Diana