Two Versions Of "Old Ship Of Zion" (The Roberta Martin Singers & Jackson Southernaires)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases two African American Gospel versions of the song "Old Ship Of Zion". One version is sung by The Roberta Martin Singers and one version is sung by the Jackson Southernaires. This post also includes the lyrics to those versions of "Old Ship Of Zion" (as sung in those particular YouTube files.)

The content of this post is presented for religious and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
(These examples are presented in chronological order based on the date of their YouTube posting, with the oldest dated videos posted first.)

"Old Ship of Zion" (1949)- The Roberta Martin Singers



JayEm86, Uploaded on May 22, 2008

"Old Ship of Zion", with Norsalus McKissick on lead. Also with: Romance Watson: Baritone; Eugene Smith: Tenor; Bessie Folk: Contralto; Roberta Martin: Contralto, piano; Delois Barrett: Soprano; "Little" Lucy Smith: Organ.

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LYRICS - Old Ship Of Zion
(As sung by The Roberta Martin Singers)

Verse #1:
I was lost in sin and sorrow
on an isle in life's dark sea
When I saw far in the distance
there a ship it seemed to be
Then I saw the Captain beckon,
He cried so loud and free
“My child, I’ve come to save you.
Step on board and follow me”

Chorus:
‘Tis the old ship of Zion,
'Tis the old ship of Zion,
'Tis the old ship of Zion
I got on board, early one morning
I got on board.

Verse #2:
There ain’t no danger
in the water
There ain’t no danger
in the water.
There ain’t no danger
in the water
I got on board early one morning.
I got on board.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file. Additions & corrections are welcome.

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"The Old Ship Of Zion" - Jackson Southernaires



malacomg, Uploaded on Jan 27, 2011

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LYRICS - Old Ship Of Zion
(As sung by the Jackson Southernaires)

I was standing on the banks of the river
Looking out over life's troubled seas
When I saw the old ship that was sailing.
Is that the old ship of Zion I see?

Her hull was bent and battered
From the storms of life I could see.
Waves were rough, but the old ship was steady.
Is that the old ship of Zion I see?

At the stern of the ship stood the Captain.
I could hear Him when He called out my name.
“Get on board the old ship of Zion
It will never pass this way again.”

As I step on board, I'll be leaving
All my sorrows and heartaches behind.
I'll be safe with Jesus, the Captain
Sailing out on the old ship of Zion.
Sailing out on the old ship of Zion.
Zion.
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file. Additions & corrections are welcome.

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RELATED LINK
Click http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=41005&messages=38 for a discussion of & examples of old lyrics to the "Old Ship Of Zion". That song is said to be one of the earliest documented African American Spirituals, with text versions (and possibly also tunes) which date from the early 19th century that are very different from those given above.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to The Roberta Martin Singers and the Jackson Southernaires for their musical legacy. My thanks to the producers of these videos and their YouTube publishers.

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