BOUND TO GO

I build my house upon de rock- O yes, Lord!
No wind, no storm can blow 'em down- O yes, Lord!
March on, march on, bound to go,
Been to de ferry, bound to go;
Left St. Helena, bound to go,
Brudder, Fare ye well.

I build my house on shiftin' sand,
De first wind come he blow him down.
Cho.
I am not like de foolish man,
He build his house upon de sand.
Cho.
One mornin' as I was walkin' along,
I saw de berries a-hangin' down.
Cho.
I pick de berries and I suck de juice,
He sweeter dan de honey comb.
Cho.
I tuk dem brudder, two by two,
I tuk dem sister, tree by tree.

(Alternate chorus and verses:)

I build my house upon de rock- O yes, Lord!
No wind nor storm shall blow dem down- O yes, Lord!
March on, member, bound to go;
March on, member, bound to go;
Bid 'em Fare you well.

I build my house upon a rock- O yes, Lord!
No wind nor storm shall blow dem down,
O yes, Lord!

March on, member, bound to go;
March on, member, bound to go;
March on, member, bound to go;
Bid 'em fare you well.

A rowing song as well as a spiritual. St. Helena is the sound near Beaufort, S. C., (pronounced Bew-fort).
Not related to the McCalman song of the same name (in Forum).
From Allen, Wise and Garrison, 1867, Slave Songs of the United States p. 22-23, (electronic edition).
@spiritual @work song

BOUND TO GO II

Jordan River, I'm bound to go,
Bound to go, bound to go,
Jordan River, I'm bound to go,
An' bid 'em fare ye well.

My brudder Robert, I'm bound to go,
Bound to go, etc.

My sister Lucy, I'm bound to go,
Bound to go, etc.

Higginson, Negro Spirituals,Atlantic Monthly, 1867, No. II.
@spiritual @work song