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