“Bound for the Promised Land”

Description

"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...." The rest of the song describes the wonders of the promised land.

Notes

Randolph describes his fragmemt ("I'm bound for the promised land, I'm bound for the promised land, Oh who will come an' go with me? I'm bound for the promised land") as a "jump-up song" which could be used as the chorus to several hymns. It is apparently used most often with "On Jordan's Stormy Banks."

The Sacred Harp lists no fewer than seven tunes ("Heavenly Port," "Jordan" [this not the same as the Missouri Harmony's "Jordan"], "Jordan's Shore," "My Home," "New Jordan," "Sweet Prospect," "The Promised Land") for Samuel Stennett's "On Jordan's Stormy Banks." The Missouri Harmony has it to the tune "Canaan."

One of those shape note tunes (according to the editors of Brown, quoting Jackson) is described as "practically identical with the old Scottish 'The Boatie Rows."" The lyrics do fit "The Boatie Rows," but to declare any of the Sacred Harp tunes the same as "The Boatie Rows" appears an extreme stretch to me. - RBW

The Karnes recording is a hybrid; the words are "Bound for the Promised Land," but the tune is a direct lift from "Don't Let Your Deal Go Down." - PJS

Cross references

• cf. "Heavenly Port," "Jordan," "Jordan's Shore," "My Home," "New Jordan," "Sweet Prospect" (all share "On Jordan's Stormy Banks" verses)

Recordings

• Charles Butts Sacred Harp Singers, "Promised Land" (OKeh 45252, 1928)
• Harmon E. Helmick, "Bound for the Promised Land" (Champion 16744, 1934)
• Alfred G. Karnes, "I Am Bound for the Promised Land" (Victor 20840, 1927)
• Frank & James McCravy, "The Promised Land" (OKeh 40371, 1925)
• Old Southern Sacred Singers, "I Am Bound for the Promised Land" (Brunswick 161, 1927; Supertone S-2096, 1930)
• Singers from Stewart's Chapel, Houston, MS, "New Jordan" (on Fasola1)
• Turkey Mountain Singers, "I Am Bound for the Promised Land" (Victor 20942, 1927)
• Walker Brothers, "I'm Bound for the Promised Land" (Broadway 4121, c. 1932?)
• Frank Welling & John McGhee, "I'm Bound for the Promised Land" (Perfect 12780, 1932)

References

1. BrownIII 581, "I Am Bound for the Promised Land" (1 text)
2. Randolph 624, "I'm Bound for the Promised Land" (1 short text, 1 tune)
3. Lomax-FSUSA 99, "Bound for the Promised Land" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Arnett, p. 98, "I Am Bound for the Promised Land" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Roud #11897
6. BI, LxU099