Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Army Life in a Black Regiment

[214]

Massa Jesus give me a little broom
For to sweep my heart clean,
And I will try, by de grace of God,
To win my way home.

Among the songs not available for marching, but requiring the concentrated enthusiasm of the camp, was “The Ship of Zion,” of which they had three wholly distinct versions, all quite exuberant and tumultuous.

XXVIII. the Ship of Zion.

Come along, come along,
And let us go home,
O, glory, hallelujah?
Dis de ole ship oa Zion,
Halleloo! Halleloo!
Dis de ole ship oa Zion,
Hallelujah!

She has landed many a tousand,
She can land as many more.
O, glory, hallelujah! &c.

Do you tink she will be able
For to take us all home?
O, glory, hallelujah! &c.

You can tell 'em I'm a comin‘,
Halleloo! Halleloo!
You can tell 'em I'm a comin‘,
Hallelujah!
Come along, come along, &c.

XXIX. the Ship of Zion. (Second version.)

Dis de good ole ship oa Zion,
Dis de good ole ship oa Zion,
Dis de good ole ship oa Zion,
And she's makin‘ for de Promise Land.
She hab angels for de sailors, ( Thrice.)
And she's, &c.
And how you know dey's angels? (Thrice.)
And she's, &c.