Gospel Ship
Joan Baez Lyrics


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I have the news to bring
And that is why I sing
All my joy with you I'll share
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
And go sailin' through the air

I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye

I can hardly wait
I know I won't be late
I'll spend my time in prayer
And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin
And go sailin' through the air

I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye

If you are ashamed of me
You ought not to be
And you'd better have a care
If too much fault you find you'll sure be left behind
When I'm sailin' through the air

I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky




I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye

Overall Meaning

Joan Baez's "Gospel Ship" is a song about one's journey towards salvation. The lyrics deal with the singer's desire to share the good news of salvation with others and his/her conviction in the glory that awaits him/her in the afterlife. The singer talks about taking a journey on the Gospel Ship, which is a metaphor for the path towards salvation. The ship represents the church, and sailing through the air is a metaphor for the soul's ascent towards heaven. The lyrics also touch upon the theme of judgment, cautioning listeners that if they are ashamed of the singer or if they find too much fault, they will be left behind.


The song is quintessentially American gospel music, one that captures the essence of the African American spiritual genre. The lyrics reflect the religious fervor and optimism of that era, which was marked by the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and a general sense of disillusionment. The song encourages believers to persevere and keep the faith, despite the world's troubles, for the journey towards salvation is an arduous but ultimately fulfilling one. Through its ebullient melody and powerful lyrics, the song aims to inspire listeners to embark upon their own Gospel Ship journey.


Line by Line Meaning

I have the news to bring
I have important news to share


And that is why I sing
That's why I'm singing this song


All my joy with you I'll share
I want to share my happiness with you


I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
I'm going on a journey of faith


And go sailin' through the air
I'll soar through the sky


Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm heading to heaven


I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
I'll sing and celebrate until the end


When I bid this world goodbye
When I depart from this earthly life


I can hardly wait
I'm eagerly anticipating it


I know I won't be late
I'm confident I won't miss the journey


I'll spend my time in prayer
I'll use my time wisely, connecting with God


And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin
When the time comes, I'll leave behind my sinful life


If you are ashamed of me
If you disapprove of my beliefs


You ought not to be
You shouldn't feel that way


And you'd better have a care
You should be cautious about your actions


If too much fault you find you'll sure be left behind
If you're too critical, you'll miss the journey




Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

L. J. Carpenter

Gospel Ship

Joan Baez

I have the news to bring
And that is why I sing
All my joy with you I'll share
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
And go sailin' through the air

I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye

I can hardly wait
I know I won't be late
I'll spend my time in prayer
And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin
And go sailin' through the air

I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye

If you are ashamed of me
You ought not to be
And you'd better have a care
If too much fault you find you'll sure be left behind
When I'm sailin' through the air

I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye



All comments from YouTube:

Dunjak111

I am in love with this voice, since decades.

L. J. Carpenter

Gospel Ship

Joan Baez

I have the news to bring
And that is why I sing
All my joy with you I'll share
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
And go sailin' through the air

I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye

I can hardly wait
I know I won't be late
I'll spend my time in prayer
And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin
And go sailin' through the air

I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye

If you are ashamed of me
You ought not to be
And you'd better have a care
If too much fault you find you'll sure be left behind
When I'm sailin' through the air

I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye

Thiny1991

Beautiful gospel song ....

Dan D. Dirges

I do declare I have never heard Joan sound this good!

rose jane

Voice of a angel πŸ’“πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ’•

Nathalie Peignet

super chanson et chanteuse

Jack Brown

One of the greatest!!How do I get a ticket????

Nancy King-Badran

by grace through faith in Jesus Christ

city zen

Lead a righteous Life.

Andrew C.

Time machine down the Shenandoah River.

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