Lyr Req: I'm Bound for the Promised Land

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Bound for the Promised Land
From: Azizi
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 06:25 PM

There are several YouTube videos of "I'm Bound for the Promised Land".

I believe that the lyrics for this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROn40HsMhGI "The 2007 Generation of Youth for Christ (GYC) Mens Chorus" are the same as those given in the comment posted by ndlxs - PM Date: 27 Oct 08 - 06:52 PM. However, that rendition end with the words:

I'm bound for the promised land (2x)
Who will come and go with me
I'm bound for the promised land

&&

The rendition I prefer is this one:
The Sallie Martin Singers: I'm Bound For The Promised Land
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTqO67zdQmI&feature=related

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land
Where my possessions lie

When shall I reach that happy place
and be forever blessed
When shall I see my Father's face
And in His bosom rest.

I'm bound for the promised land (2x)
tell me who will come and go with me
I'm bound for the promised land

-snip-

It's remarkable how basically the same song can be sung so differently. In the first video whose link is given, that song is sung like an anthmn. In the second video whose link is given, that song is song in an African American Gospel style.

Also, here's the lyrics to that song as sung by Johnny Cash

http://www.lyricsdepot.com/johnny-cash/im-bound-for-the-promised-land.html

I'm Bound For The Promised Land Lyrics
Artist: Johnny Cash (Buy Johnny Cash CDs)

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie.

I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
Oh who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

O'er all those wide extended plains
Shines one eternal day;
There God the Son forever reigns,
And scatters night away.

I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
Oh who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

No chilling winds or poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness and sorrow, pain and death,
Are felt and feared no more.

I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
Oh who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

When I shall reach that happy place,
I'll be forever blessed,
For I shall see my Father's face,
And in His bosom rest.

-snip-

One more note,Q. Regarding your comment on 27 Oct 08 - 09:30 PM

Lyr. Add: I AM BOUND FOR THE PROMISED LAND
Bascomb Lamar Lunsford, 1921

Am I a soldier of the Cross-
A follower of the lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause
Or blush to speak His name?


I'm sure that you're aware that that verse is from Isaac Watts song Am I A Soldier Of The Cross.

http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/m/amiasold.htm

Am I a Soldier of the Cross
Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Music: Thomas A. Arne; arr. by Ralph Harrison
Tune: ARLINGTON, Meter: CM

-snip-

That verse is also found in Issac Watt's song "When The Battle's Over"

http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/e/whenbatt.htm

When the battle's over
Words: Isaac Watts, ap­pend­ed to his Ser­mons, pub­lished 1721-4. This ver­sion adds a re­frain to Watt's orig­in­al hymn, Am I a Sol­dier of the Cross....

Refrain

And when the battle's over
We shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown!
And when the battle's over
We shall wear a crown
In the new Jerusalem
Wear a crown (wear a crown)
Wear a crown (wear a crown)
Wear a bright and shining crown;
And when the battle's over
We shall wear a crown
In the new Jerusalem.

Subject: Lyr. Add: Primus Lan' (Promised Land)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:40 PM

Lyr. Add: PRIMUS LAN' (Promised Land)
Low Country spiritual

1
Oh, uh got uh mansion up on high,
Well, 'e ain' mek wid han',
No- 'e ain' mek wid han, no, 'e ani' mek wid han',
Oh, uh got uh mansion up on high w'at ain' mek wid han',
En I'll meet chu een duh Primus Lan'.

Chorus-
I will meet chu een duh Primus Lan',
I will meet chu een duh Primus Lan',
I will meet chu, I will meet chu,
I will meet chu, meet chu, chu,
I will meet chu een duh Primus Lan'.

2
Oh, uh got uh leetle sistuh een duh new grabeyaa'd,
W'at outshine duh sun,
Oh, 'e outshine duh sun, en 'e outshine duh sun,
Oh, uh got uh leetle sistuh een duh new grabeyaa'd,
W'at outshine duh sun,
En I'll meet chu een duh Primus Lan'.
3
Oh, uh got auh leetle bredduh een duh new grabeyaa'd,
W'at outshine duh sun,
Oh, 'e outshine duh sun, en 'e outshine duh sun,
Oh, uh got uh leetle bredduh een duh new grabeyaa'd,
W'at outshine duh sun,
En I'll meet chu een duh Primus Lan'.

'e ain' mek wid han' - it isn't made with hands.
chu- you
bredduh- brother.

With musical score, sung "with rejoicing," pp. 322-323. Collected Santee River (NE Charleston, SC), the Carolina Low Country. Coll Robert W. Gordon.
Augustine T. Smythe et al., 1931, section "Negro Spirituals" by Robert W. Gordon, The Carolina Low-Country, The Macmillan Company.

Subject: Lyr. Add: Primus Lan' (Promised Land)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 05:15 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Bound for the Promised Land
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Dec 11 - 04:48 PM

Lyr. Add: I AM BOUND FO' DE PROMISED LAN'

1
I am boun' fo' de promised lan'
I am boun' fo' de promised lan'
O won't yo' rise an' go wid me
I am boun' fo' de promised lan'.
2
When I git to hebben I'll set an' tell
I am boun' fo' de promised lan'
Just how I shun de gates ob hell
I am boun' fo' de promised lan'.
3
O Christians, Christians be engaged
I am boun' fo' de promised lan'
Old Satan's in an awful rage
I am boun' fo' de promised land.

With musical score, 4/4.
No. 40, Saint Helena Island Spirituals, recorded and transcribed at the Penn Normal Industrial and Agricultural School, Saint Helena Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina.
By Nicholas George Julius Ballanta- (Taylor), 1924, Press of G. Schirmer, Inc. New York.

Subject: Lyr Add: HEAVENLY JORDAN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Dec 11 - 11:17 PM

From The Sabbath Chimes compiled by C. C. Mudge (Brooklyn, NY: [s.n.], 1859), page 52:


HEAVENLY JORDAN

1. There is a land of pure delight
Where saints immortal reign.
Infinite day excludes the night
And pleasures banish pain.

CHORUS: I am bound for the promised land.
I am bound for the promised land.
Oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

2. There everlasting spring abides
And never-withering flowers.
Death, like a narrow sea, divides
This heavenly land from ours.

3. Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood
Stand dressed in living green;
So to the Jews old Canaan stood
While Jordan rolled between.

4. Could we but climb where Moses stood
And view the landscape o'er,
Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood
Should fright us from the shore.

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: Janie
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 11:52 PM

As did I. Thanks very much for sharing it.

And welcome to Mudcat!

Janie

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: Ferrara
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 11:37 PM

Just to say I enjoyed the video very much. - RF

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: ClaireBear
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 04:20 PM

(grin)

Nice to have made someone's day! Thanks will be duly passed on.

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: ndlxs
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 04:02 PM

Claire,
You have made my day, thank Jon for me.

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 03:42 PM

Version not seen.

I Am Bound Fo' de Promised Lan', in Ballanta-Taylor, "Saint Helena Island Spirituals," G. Schirmer, 1925.

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: ClaireBear
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 03:15 PM

Yes, that was I...though actually that particular song was sung by the other woman in our band, S.K. Morgan.

My dear friend and sometime musical partner Jon has put good-quality MP3s of that entire album on his Web site, so that song can be yours! Go to this page for one side of the cassette, and this page for the other. Free, but you'll have to supply your own CD...

Cheers,
Claire

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 03:10 PM

A wonderful recording of this song. I must admit that I am joined at the hip to Alfred G Karnes' version, though. Those slapping bass line runs on guitar! Be still, my heart!

Jerry

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: ndlxs
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 03:05 PM

Claire,
If you are the correct sister, I do seem to recall I used to have a treasured tape that has a terrific shape note style rendition of "Mercedes Benz", the Janis Joplin song.

Love to have that on cd...

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: ClaireBear
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 03:00 PM

By the way, sorry; I've been remiss not to say:

Welcome to the Mudcat, new member ndlxs! Lovely to meet you. Mind the trolls, enjoy the cameraderie, and do add your voice to the throng!

Claire

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: ClaireBear
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 12:58 PM

Nice work, ndlxs!

I must say, though, that it is somewhat startling to see my big brother, who practices complete computer avoidance, on YouTube...

(Fellow Catters, my brother Alan sings verses one and three and opens and closes the church in this video).

Y'all sound wonderful together. And it is a great CD, everyone! Click here for the CDBaby page, with loads of samples.

Claire

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: ndlxs
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 11:45 AM

Those are good verses, I have never heard Bascom's version. Two favorite verses, too, from other songs: the first was used by the great Carter Family in "Sea of Galilee", and the other in any number of hymns.

One minor change I make to the first verse when I sing it alone is to sing "Cast a wistful eye" rather than "Cast a wishful eye". I first learned this hymn with the minor key melody from hearing Curtis Bouterse sing in on the radio in 1980.

Andy Alexis

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 09:30 PM

Lyr. Add: I AM BOUND FOR THE PROMISED LAND
Bascomb Lamar Lunsford, 1921

1
Am I a soldier of the Cross-
A follower of the lamb?
And shall I fear to own His cause
Or blush to speak His name?

Chorus
I am bound for the promised land,-
I am bound for the promised land.
Oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.

2
When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,
I bid farewell to ev'ry fear
And wipe my weeping eyes.

A very different version.
"Lunsford sings this like a weary and very old man, who is hardly able to speak the words. The texts of the two stanzas are entirely different from the printed versions in III 360 [similar to the Stennett-Southern Harmony version]. "Although in different meter, there is nevertheless a certain rhythmical similarity with a version... [from VA]". "More important, however, is the contrasting text and musical mood." This version begins with a question and is more modal.

No. 581, p. 367-368, with musical score, 4/4, Brown, North Carolina Folklore, The Music of the Folk Songs, vol. 5, ed. I. P. Schinan.

Verse six of the Stennett version (link above to the seven verses in "The Works of Samuel Stennett), like the first verse here, also poses a question.

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 08:29 PM

Lyrics and postings are scattered in Mudcat. If I have missed some, please add.

"On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand." I am bound fot the promised land, Oh who will come and go with me...
Words Samuel Stennett in "Selection of Hymns by John Rippon, 1787. Music Miss M. Durham, "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion" by William Walker (1835). Arr. R. M. McIntosh, 1895.
Cyberhymnal- On Jordan

"The Promised Land," posted by Burke, 24 Sept 01, thread 24379 (Deep River or Steal Away). This is the version in Cyberhymnal, music by Durham from Southern Harmony.
Deep River thread

Brief version in Albert Brumley, "Christian Hymnsongs." Posted by Joe Offer, 25 Sept 97, thread 2906, On Jordan's Stormy Banks."
On Jordan

Altered version in Rodeheaver, # 120, "Christian Service Songs." Stennett. Thread 25770, "On Jordan's Stormy Banks," posted by Uncle Jaque 24 Sept 00.
On Jordan

"On Jordan's Stormy Banks," 7 verses as published in "The Works of Samuel Stennett," vol. 3, 1824, Thomas Tegg, London, pp 554-555. Posted by Burke, 03 Oct 00, thread 25770, "On Jordan's Stormy Banks."
On Jordan

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: ndlxs
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 06:52 PM

Here they are:
Off to California (click on "The Music")
On Jordan's stormy banks I stand
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land
Where my possessions lie
Chorus
I am bound for the promised land
Bound for the promised land
Oh who will come and go with me
I am bound for the promised land

Oh, the transporting rapturous scene
That rises to my eyes
Sweet fields arrayed in living green
And rivers of delight

No chilling wind nor poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore
There sickness, sorrow, pain and death
Are felt and feared no more

Filled with delight my raptured soul
Would hear no longer stay
While Jordan's waves around me roll
Fearless I'd launch away

From our web site:
"There are a number of old gospel hymns in The Sacred Harp collection with interchangeable verses and this is one of them. We selected those that seemed to contribute to the metaphor of the gold country as a promised land, borrowing especially from "New Jordan," "Sweet Prospect" and "The Promised Land." The Sacred Harp was an essential part of the shape note singing tradition of the deep South. It was first published in 1844. Our verse lyrics are attributed to Samuel Stennet, 1787. None of us can recall how we learned the chorus and melody, however. We all were raised in different religious traditions and have many years of traditional music under our belts. The first time we tried to sing this song together, we instinctively knew the melody and found our parts. Since older people in our audiences often sing along, we suspect it exists in now extinct church hymnals."

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 06:15 PM

Great! Could you please post your lyrics ? Seems close to the version in the Wolf Folklore Collection. A good simple rendition.

(A clean, straightforward tune but Johnny Cash somehow did it badly)

Subject: RE: Bound for the Promised Land
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 05:49 PM

Lovely- great harmonies, good energy- and you didn't try to "do" too much, but let the song have its impact. Thanks for sharing!

Subject: Bound for the Promised Land
From: ndlxs
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 02:06 PM

Howdy folks from the California Gold Country;
My friends and I have been performing music of the California Gold Rush for over 20 years under the name Off to California. We have released a CD, Hard Times in the Promised Land.

We produced our first video of a hymn, Bound for the Promised Land, that we shot at the Catholic Church in Coloma, the very town where gold was discovered by James Marshall on January 24, 1848.

The video can be seen on Youtube here: Promised Land by Off to California
.

Thanks for watching!