Sail, O Believer

Traditional

 

Years back someone gave this to me written out by hand.  Recently I heard it was from the Quimby family of the Georgia Sea Islands.  Dick Swain found a lovely looking version in an Applewood Books 1995 reprint of Slave Songs of the United States (originally published in 1867), so it has been around for a good while.  I've never heard it sung.

 

Gordon – 12 string guitar;

Will, Cindy, Carol & Anne - vocals

 

            Sail, o believer, sail over yonder

            Sail, o brother sail, sail over yonder

 

Oh brother bear a hand

Come brother bear a hand

 

Come view the promised land

Come view the promised land

 

Oh Mary, Mary weep

Bow low Martha

 

Oh, my Lord's coming now

And my Lord locks the door

 

Now my Lord's locked the door

Carries the keys away

 

 

 

Sail, O Believer is recorded on the album Dear To Our Island