Here's a note about the origins of the Civil Rights song "I'm On My Way" [lyrics posted above by Q on 06 Sep 03 - 04:07 PM ]

"I'm On My Way
The Civil Rights movement in 1960s was the singingest movement in American history. Old African American spirituals like, "I Will Overcome," "I'm On My Way to Canaan Land" and dozens of others were adapted by marchers and demonstrators throughout the South and across the nation. By design, the repetitive nature and "call back" structure of a spiritual make it ideal for improvised group singing.

Source: Sing for Freedom, edited and compiled by Guy and Candie Carawan. Sing Out! Publications.
Recordings on file by: Carter Family, Mahalia Jackson, Various artists."

https://www.oldtownschool.org/resources/songnotes/songnotes_I.html

-snip-

I've also found lyrics to this song http://www.songsforteaching.com/billharley/imonmyway.htm

The only difference in the words [besides the order of interchangeable "zipper" referents] is that the fixed refrain at the end of the verses is "I'm on my way, praise God/I'm on my way."

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I've also read online that "I'm On My Way To [The] Canaan Land" is related to the song "I'm Bound For The Promised Land".