“O CANA-AN, BRIGHT CANA-AN”
Was one of the stimulating melodies of the old-time awakenings, which were simply airs, and were sung unisonously. “O Cana-an” (pronounced in three syllables) was the chorus, the hymn-lines being either improvised or picked up miscellaneously from memory, the interline, “I am bound for the land of Cana-an,” occurring between every two. John Wesley's “How happy is the pilgrim's lot” was one of the snatched stanzas swept into the current of the song. An example of the tune-leader's improvisations to keep the hymn going was—
If you get there before I do,—
I am bound for the land of Cana-an!
Look out for me, I'm coming too—
I am bound for the land of Cana-an!
And then hymn and tune took possession of the assembly and rolled on in a circle with—
O Cana-an, bright Cana-an!
I am bound for the land of Cana-an;
O Cana-an it is my hap-py home,