Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Army Life in a Black Regiment

VII. this world almost done.

Brudder, keep your lamp trimmin‘ and a-burnin‘,
Keep your lamp trimmin‘ and a-burnin‘,
Keep your lamp trimmin‘ and a-burnin‘,
For dis world most done.
So keep your lamp, &c.
Dis world most done.

But in the next, the final reward of patience is proclaimed as plaintively.

VIII. I want to go home.

Dere's no rain to wet you,
O, yes, I want to go home.
Dere's no sun to burn you,
O, yes, I want to go home;
O, push along, believers,
O, yes, &c.
Dere's no hard trials,
O, yes, &c.
Dere's no whips a-crackin‘,
O, yes, &c.
My brudder on de wayside,
O, yes, &c.
O, push along, my brudder,
O, yes, &c.
Where dere's no stormy weather,
O, yes, &c.
Dere's no tribulation,
O, yes, &c.

This next was a boat-song, and timed well with the tug of the oar.

IX. the coming day.

I want to go to Canaan,
I want to go to Canaan,
I want to go to Canaan,
To meet 'em at de comin‘ day.