The song was first mentioned in print in 1876, when it was published in the first edition of The Story of the Jubilee Singers: With Their Songs, by J. B. T. Marsh. By 1917, when Harry Burleigh completed the last of his several influential arrangements, the song had become very popular in recitals. It has been called "perhaps the best known and best-loved spiritual".
Words
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. Note: the word campground probably refers to what is now the Campground Historic District in Mobile, Alabama, an African-American military encampment during the American Civil War.
Adaptations
The melody was adopted in 1921 for the song Dear Old Southland by Henry Creamer and Turner Layton, which enjoyed popular success the next year in versions by Paul Whiteman and by Vernon Dalhart. Deep River has been sung in several films. The 1929 Show Boat featured it mouthed by Laura La Plante to the singing of Eva Olivetti. Paul Robeson famously sang it accompanied by male chorus in the 1940 movie The Proud Valley. And in the 1983 blockbuster hit National Lampoon's Vacation it was sung by Chevy Chase. Deep River is also one of five spirituals written into the 1941 oratorio A Child of Our Time by Michael Tippett.
Recordings
Marian Anderson recorded a version in November 1923 for the Victor label.
Paul Robeson recorded the song on May 10, 1927 for the Montgomery Ward label.
Tommy Dorsey recorded a version on February 17, 1941 for the Victor label.
Adelaide Hall and Kenneth Cantril recorded a version of "Deep River" for their boxed set of Spirituals released in 1949 on London Records.
Deep River Boys Featuring Harry Douglas with Pete Brown's Orchestra.
Odetta recorded a version for her 1957 album At the Gate of Horn.
Johnny Mathis's third album, Good Night, Dear Lord, released 1958, USA.
The Wings Over Jordan Choir - recorded in June 1946 for Queen Records.
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.
The band of the British South Africa Police recorded a version for the album Kum A Kye, released in Rhodesia.
Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA recorded the song in 1988 for the stereocassette, "Songs of My People." It was re-released in 2020 for the 30th anniversary of Sister Bowman's death as part of the digital album, .
