“Oh, Be Ready When the Train Comes In”

Description

"We are soldiers in this blessed war, For Jesus we are marching on, With a shout and song." "We are sweeping on to claim the blessed promise... Oh, be ready when the train comes in." Harlots, idolaters, loafers, jokers will not be allowed aboard

Notes

Very little of this is actually Biblical (smoking, e.g., is not mentioned in the Bible, and the Bible isn't entirely unhumorous -- the book of Jonah, e.g., contains many farcical elements). The one fairly clear allusion is to the "land of Beulah" -- a reference to Isaiah 62:4, where the King James version leaves the word beulah -- "married" -- untranslated. - RBW

References

  1. Scarborough-NegroFS, p. 258, "Oh, Be Ready When the Train Comes In" (1 text)
  2. BI, ScaNF258

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1925 (Scarborough)
Keywords: religious nonballad
Found in: US