On my way to Canaan Land meaning

Written byLanguageEnglishComments aka "Canaan Land" or "I'm on My Way to Canaan's Land" or just "I'm on My Way".
Possibly an Underground Railroad song. It was adapted and widely performed during the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Boll Weavil Jackson's 1926 recording of "I'm on My Way to Kingdom Land" seems to have been the basis for the subsequent Canaan Land adaptations.

1929 lyrics of "I'm on My Way to Caneyan Land" from song in a play by E.C.L. Adams:

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• Recordings[edit]
• References[edit]
• "The land that flows with milk and honey." Deuteronomy 6:3

If you don't go, don't hinder me (3x)
I'm on my way, great God, I'm on my way
I'm on my way to Canaan land (3x)
I'm on my, great God, I'm on my way

One of the earliest recorded versions by Blind Nesbit in 1930 used these lyrics -

CHORUS: I am on my way, to the Canaan land (3x)
I'm on my way, praise God, I'm on my way.

VERSE 1: Oh Joseph was a religious man,
He had trouble at home and all over the land.
Joseph was afflicted from his head to his feet,
His wife came in, said, "How do you feel?"
Then Joseph began to shout,

CHORUS: I am on my way, to the Canaan land
I'm on my way, to the Canaan land.
If Jesus will, might come to be
I'm on my way, praise God, I'm on my way.

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• Originals
• Highlights 3
• Versions 34
• Adaptations 2
• Discussions 1
• All

Originals

"I'm on my way (and I won't turn back)" is a traditional Gospel song.[1] It is described a typical "going-to-Canaan" song; and possibly an Underground Railroad song.[2]

The lyrics begin "I'm on my way and I won't turn back, I'm on my way and I won't turn back, I'm on my way and I won't turn back; I'm on my way, great God, I'm on my way. I asked my brother to come with me..."[3]

Recordings[edit]

• The Carter Family
• Odetta on Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues 1956
• Soundtrack for Elmer Gantry (1960)
• The Golden Gate Quartet recorded this song under the title "The Story of Job"
• Barbara Dane, on her album "On My Way", 1962.
• The Proclaimers (1988)
• Adapted, into a new song "On My Way"

References[edit]

1. ^ Motive - Volume 23 1962 p.41 "... And finally the overwhelming affirmation, "I'm on my way and I won't turn back!"
2. ^ John Greenway American folksongs of protest 1953 p.100 A typical "going-to-Canaan" song; possibly an Underground Railroad song. The Carter Family, famous white hillbilly singers, have made a record of a version of this song utterly without slavery significance. I'm on my way, and I won't turn back!
3. ^ Mark Kailana Nelson Favorite Old-Time American Songs for Dulcimer 2011 p. 147 "I'm on my way and I won't turn back, I'm on my way and I won't turn back, I'm on my way and I won't turn back; I'm on my way, great God, I'm on my way. I asked my brother to come with me, I asked my brother to come with"

"The land that flows with milk and honey." Deuteronomy 6:3

Hymns Supplied Through the Gracious Generosity
of the Cyber Hymnal Website

Words & Music: William M. Golden, 1914

To Canaan's land I'm on my way,
Where the soul of man never dies;
My darkest night will turn to day,
Where the soul of man never dies.

Refrain

Dear friends, there'll be no sad farewells,
There'll be no tear dimmed eyes,
Where all is peace and joy and love,
And the soul of man never dies.

A rose is blooming there for me,
Where the soul of man never dies;
And I will spend eternity,
Where the soul of man never dies.

Refrain

A love light beams across the foam,
Where the soul of man never dies;
It shines to light the shores of home,
Where the soul of man never dies.

Refrain

My life will end in deathless sleep,
Where the soul of man never dies;
And everlasting joys I'll reap,
Where the soul of man never dies.

Refrain

I'm on my way to that fair land,
Where the soul of man never dies;
Where there will be no parting hand,
Where the soul of man never dies.

Refrain

Information about the musical score and the Cyber Hymnal Website