Old ship of Zion

Representative Text

1 Come, tell of your vessel, and what is her name?
Oh! happy Christian sailors!
Say, who is your captain? and what is his fame?
Oh! happy Christian sailors!

Chorus:
She's the "Old ship of Zion,"
Hallelujah!
And her captain's Judah's Lion,
Hallelujah!

2 Say, who are on board, and from whence do they come?
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
And why do you bear them away from their home?
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
They are chosen, called, and holy,
Hallelujah!
And have left the land of folly,
Hallelujah!

3 Say, is her keel sound, and her larder well stored?
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
And will you receive other comrades on board?
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
Come on board the vessel, stranger;
Hallelujah!
For we dread no want nor danger,
Hallelujah!

4 But let me first know, ere on board I am found,
Oh! happy Christian sailors!
The name of the port where your vessel is bound,
Oh! happy Christian sailors!
We seek the port of heaven,
Hallelujah!
Bright crowns shall there be given,
Hallelujah!

5 But will you not fear when the ocean waves roar,
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
That you will be lost, and will never gain shore?
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
Our captain rules the ocean,
Hallelujah!
He can still the waves' commotion,
Hallelujah!

6 And when you leave port, and are sailing the sea,
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
What then on the ship your employment shall be?
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
We will sing the songs of Zion,
Hallelujah!
And we'll keep our colours flying,
Hallelujah!

7 But may you not fear you ride o'er the main,
Oh! tell me, happy sailors,
Some foe may engage you, and all may be slain?
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
We will fear no cannon's rattle,
Hallelujah!
For our ship ne'er lost a battle,
Hallelujah!

8 And what will you do when you gain heaven's shore,
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
Your voyage at an end and your perils all o'er?
Oh! tell me, happy sailors!
We'll repeat the pleasing story,
Hallelujah!
And we'll sing and shout in glory,
Hallelujah!

Source: The Minstrel of Zion: a book of religious songs, accompanied with appropriate music, chiefly original #26

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: William Hunter

Hunter, William, D.D, son of John Hunter, was born near Ballymoney, County Antrim, Ireland, May 26, 1811. He removed to America in 1817, and entered Madison College in 1830. For some time he edited the Conference Journal, and the Christian Advocate. In 1855 he was appointed Professor of Hebrew in Alleghany College: and subsequently Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Alliance, Stark Country, Ohio. He died in 1877. He edited Minstrel of Zion, 1845; Select Melodies, 1851; and Songs of Devotion, 1859. His hymns, over 125 in all, appeared in these works. Some of these have been translated into various Indian languages. The best known are :— 1. A home in heaven; what a joyful thought. Heaven a Home. From his Minstrel of Zion, 1… Go to person page >

^ top