I
I WAS STANDING ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER
LOOKING OUT OVER LIFE'S TROUBLED SEA
WHEN I SAW AN OLD SHIP THAT WAS SAILING
IS THAT THE OLD SHIP OF ZION I SEE
II
ITS HULL WAS BENT AND BATTERED
FROM THE STORMS OF LIFE I COULD SEE
WAVES WERE ROUGH BUT THAT OLD SHIP WAS SAILING
IS THAT THE OLD SHIP OF ZION I SEE
III
AT THE STERN OF THE SHIP WAS THE CAPTAIN
I COULD HEAR AS HE CALLED OUT MY NAME
GET ON BOARD ITS THE OLD SHIP OF ZION
IT WILL NEVER PASS THIS WAY AGAIN
IV
AS I STEP ON BAORD I'LL BE LEAVING
ALL MY SORROWS AND HEARTACHES BEHIND
I'LL BE SAFE WITH JESUS THE CAPTAIN
SAILING OUT ON THE OLD SHIP OF ZION