Where Is Old Elijah?


1. Where O where is old Elijah?
   Where O where is old Elijah?
   Where O where is old Elijah?
   Way over in the promised land.
   
   
2. He went up in a fiery chariot...
   
3. Where, O where are the Hebrew children....
   
4. They went up in a fiery furnace....
   
5. Where O where is the bad boy Absolom*...
   
6. He went up on the spear of Joab...
   
7. Where, O where is poor old Daniel...
   
8. He went up in a den of lions....

source: Camp Songs 'n' Things (1939), published by Songs 'n' Things, 1950 Addison Street, Berkeley 4, California (James J. Gillick & Company)
The format of this book is very similar to those published by Cooperative Recreation Services.

*Absalom is the usual spelling - the third son of David, who rebelled against his father. See 2 Samuel, chapters 13-18

---

This same version is in Carl Sandburg's American Songbag (1927), but with the following chorus after 2, 4, 6, and 8:

By and by we will go and see him,
By and by we will go and see him,
By and by we will go and see him,
'Way over in the promised land.

---

And the Traditional Ballad Index Listing:

Where Is Old Elijah? (The Hebrew Children, The Promised Land)

DESCRIPTION: "Where oh where is old Elijah? (x3) 'Way over in the Promised Land. He went up in a fiery chariot (x3) 'Way over in the promised land. By and by we will go and see him...." Unrelated verses on Biblical themes, e.g. "Where are the Hebrew children"
AUTHOR: Peter Cartwright?
EARLIEST DATE: 1832 (Sacred Harp)
KEYWORDS: Bible religious nonballad
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MW,SE,So)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
BrownIII 646, "Way Over in the Promised Land" (1 text)
Belden, pp. 457-459, "The Promised Land" (2 texts, 1 tune, the second text purporting to be a translation into an Indian language though neither Belden nor I can say which one)
Fuson, pp. 205-206, "Safe at Home in the Promised Land" (1 text)
Sandburg, pp. 92-93, "Where O Where Is Old Elijah?" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST San092 (Partial)
Roud #4213
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Paw-Paw Patch" (tune & meter)
Notes: Elijah's transportation to heaven in a fiery chariot is described in 2 Kings 2:11.
Absalom's rebellion against his father David occupies 2 Samuel 15-18 (Absalom's death occurs in 18:9-18); the extended story of David's sin and its consequences, including the rebellion, occupies 2 Samuel 11-19.
According to the Sacred Harp, the tune is by Peter Cartwright (1785-1872), and is known as "Hebrew Children." No author is listed for the words, however, and the versions show strong variations. Fred W. Allsopp, in Folklore of Romantic Arkansas, Volume II, p. 160, says that it has been sung by "professional minstels." - RBW
File: San092

---

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions

The Ballad Index Copyright 2006 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.