George Pullen Jackson in 'Spiritual Folk-Songs of Early America (1937), reproduces a hymn text from 'Knoxville Harmony' to the tune. He does not cite the author of this rather awkward poetry:

There is a land of pleasure
Where streams of joy forever roll;
Tis there I have my treasure,
And there I long to rest my soul.
Long darkness lay around me
With scarcely once a cheering ray,
But since my Saviour found me,
A lamp has shown along the way.

My way is full of danger,
But 'tis the path that leads to God,
And like a faithful soldier
I'll march along the heavenly road.
Now I must gird my sword on,
My breast plate, helmet and my shield,
And fight the host of Satan,
Until I reach the heav'nly field.

I'm on my way to Zion,
Still guided by my Saviour's hand,
O come along dear sinners
And see Emanuel's happy land.
To all that stay behind me,
I bid a long, a sad farewell.
Come now or you'll repent it
When you do reach the gates of hell.