No. 190 I’m Bound for the Land of Canaan or Sweet Canaan, Osh 87
Pentachordal, cannot be classified (I II III IV V — —)
O who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the land of Canaan;
I’m bound fair Canaan’s land to see,
I am bound for the land of Canaan.
O Canaan, sweet Canaan,
I’m bound for the land of Canaan;
Sweet Canaan ’tis my happy home,
I’m bound for the land of Canaan.
I’ll join with those who’re gone before, I am etc.
Where sin and sorrow are no more, I am etc.
Chorus
If you get there before I do, I am etc.
Look out for me, I’m coming too, I am etc.
Chorus
Text is based on a poem by Watts. The stanzas which are associated with the above are numerous, as are also the refrains and choruses. Found also BHTBK (1857), p. 334; and MHTBK (1889), No. 885. In The Musical Quarterly, vol. xxii., No. 2, I have shown the relationship between the above tune and Stephen Foster’s ‘The Glendy Burk’ and ‘Old Uncle Ned’. See also Dett, p. 188, for a negro song showing some textual and melodic influences.