Chief
Chief of Sinners.
Composer: Samuel Stennett
1 On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
and cast a wishful eye
to Canaan's fair and happy land,
where my possessions lie.
Refrain:
I am bound for the promised land,
I am bound for the promised land;
oh, who will come and go with me?
I am bound for the promised land.
2 O'er all those wide extended plains
shines one eternal day;
there God the Son forever reigns,
and scatters night away. [Refrain]
3 No chilling winds or poisonous breath
can reach that healthful shore;
sickness and sorrow, pain and death,
are felt and feared no more. [Refrain]
4 When I shall reach that happy place,
I'll be forever blest,
for I shall see my Father's face,
and in his bosom rest. [Refrain]
Story behind the song
Samuel Stennett, an English Baptist from a long line of ministers, overcame limited access to education for nonconformist families in the 18th century. Despite his religious beliefs, he was a friend of King George III and honored for his accomplishments. His hymns, including "The Promised Land," were popularized by John Rippon and later published in America with a different tune. The hymn focuses on the anticipation of heaven and a metaphorical journey to Canaan. The hymn's alterations over time reflect the 19th-century American evangelical mindset of progress and optimism.