Deep River (song)

Sheet Music for a 1917 arrangement of "Deep River"

"Deep River" is an anonymous spiritual of African American origin. It has been sung in several films, including the 1929 film version of Show Boat, although it was not used in the original show. The melody was also adapted into the popular song "Dear Old Southland", in 1921.

Deep River is sung as the closing spiritual in Michael Tippett's oratorio, A Child of Our Time.

Recordings

• Deep River Boys Featuring Harry Douglas with Pete Brown's Orchestra (Recorded in Oslo on August 23, 1956 and released on the 78 rpm record HMV AL 6039)

• The Roger Wagner Chorale recorded Roger Wagner's arrangement, first released on the album "The Negro Spiritual" for Capitol Records (SP 8600) in 1964

• Lorraine Hunt Lieberson's rendition was captured on the album "Lorraine Hunt Lieberson at Ravinia." The song was a frequent encore in recital concerts by the operatic mezzo-soprano.

Lyrics

Deep River,
My home is over Jordan.
Deep River, Lord.
I want to cross over into campground.

Deep River.
My home is over Jordan.
Deep River, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground

Oh, don't you want to go,
To the Gospel feast;
That Promised Land,
Where all is peace?

Oh, deep River, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.

External links

• YouTube video of Marian Anderson singing "Deep River"