Origins:Come from the land of Egypt/Mariner's Hymn

Subject: Origins: I am come from the land of Egypt
From: Airymouse
Date: 11 Feb 17 - 12:08 PM

I heard Mike Seeger sing this song, and I think (maybe) he attributed it to Isaac Watts. Is that the source?

Hail there and where do you come from? Hallelujah (2)
Oh I am come from the land of Egypt Hallelujah(2)
Hail there and where do you bound for? Hallelujah (2)
Oh I am bound for the land of glory Hallelujah (2)

Subject: RE: Origins: I am come from the land of Egypt
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Dec 20 - 11:44 PM

Dick Holdstock says Ewan MacColl sang this on a Seeger family Christmas album. Carol Holdstock thinks the Johnson Girls sing it.

https://www.bethsnotesplus.com/2020/11/mariners-hymn.html

Subject: ADD: Mariner's Hymn
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Dec 20 - 06:31 PM

MARINER'S HYMN

Hail you! And where did you come from? Hallelujah. (repeat)
Oh I’m come from the land of Egypt, Hallelujah. (repeat)

Hail you! And where are you bound for? (repeat)
Oh I’m bound for the land of Canaan. (repeat)

Notes: Dialogue songs like this were frequently sung in eighteenth century American churches. The men sat on one side, the women on the other (as they still do in some sections of the country), and they sang back and forth. Further stanzas of this song ask such questions as:

What is your cargo?
What is your compass?
Where is your harbor?

Children can improvise Christmas stanzas - hailing the shepherds, the wise men, Mary, or Joseph.

Source: American Folk Songs for Christmas, by Ruth Crawford Seeger, p. 55 (Doubleday & Company, 1955)

From Down-East Spirituals, by George Pullen Jackson, 1941 (page 254) - quoted from The Milennial Harp, by Joshua V. Hines, 1843 (page 39)

It sounds like MacColl is singing this song on American Folk Songs for Christmas

As a second verse, MacColl sings:

Hail you! And where are you bound for? (repeat)
Oh I’m bound for the land of glory. (repeat)

And then sings Canaan as a third verse.

This song is Roud 18282. It's not yet listed in the Traditional Ballad Index or the Digital Tradition.

Subject: ADD:Come from the land of Egypt/Mariner's Hymn
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Dec 20 - 08:06 PM

Dick Holdstock made up some verses to make the song a little longer:

MARINERS HYMN Ewan Macoll added words from sunny bank and Dick Holdstock

Hail you and where did you come from Hallelujah
Hail you and where did you come from Hallelujah
Oh I am Come from the land of Egypt Hallelujah

Hail you and where are you bound for Hallelujah
Oh I am bound for the land of glory Hallelujah

Hail you and who do you carry Hallelujah
Oh Brother Joseph and Lady Mary Hallelujah

Hail you and what do they do now Hallelujah
Oh they do whistle and they do sing now Hallelujah

Hail you and what do they sing now Hallelujah
Oh joy for our savior for he is born Hallelujah

Hail you and where are they bound for Hallelujah
Oh I am bound for the land of Canaan Hallelujah


When Dick and Carol Holdstock sing this together, it's downright lovely.