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‹Better GutenbergSpiritual Folk-Songs of Early AmericaNo. 6 — Sailor’s Home, Soh 182 · 22 of 268Contents›

Spiritual Folk-Songs of Early America

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No. 6 Sailor’s Home, Soh 182

Hexatonic, mode 3 A (I II III — V VI VII)

When for eternal worlds we steer,
And seas are calm and skies are clear;
And faith in lively exercise,
And distant hills of Canaan rise;
The soul for joy then claps her wings,
And loud her lovely sonnet sings,
I’m going home, I’m going home;
And loud her lovely sonnet sings,
I’m going home.

With cheerful hope his eyes explore
Each landmark on the distant shore;
The trees of life, the pasture green,
The crystal stream, delightful scene.
Again for joy she plumes her wings,
And loud her lovely sonnet sings:
I’m almost home, I’m almost home!
And loud her lovely sonnet sings:
I’m almost home.

The nearer still she draws to land,
More eager all her pow’rs expand;
With steady helm and free bent sail,
Her anchor drops within the vale.
And now for joy she folds her wings
And her celestial sonnet sings:
I’m home at last, I’m home at last!
And her celestial sonnet sings:
I’m home at last!

She meets with those who’re gone before,
On heaven’s high and genial shore
Around the dear Redeemer’s feet,
— — — — — — —
And loud they shout: Our God and King!
And ceaseless hallelujahs sing,
We’re safe at last! We’re safe at last!
And ceaseless hallelujahs sing,
We’re safe at last!

The song is attributed in the Southern Harmony to Wm. M. Caudill and Wm. Walker. The tune bears some resemblance to ‘Liverpool’ in this collection. The song is found also in REV 396, entitled ‘Sonnet’.

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