I STOOD ON THE BANKS OF JORDAN
{composed by James Cleveland}

Chorus:
I stood on the banks of Jordan {one day}
Just to see those ships go sailin. Oh-oh-ooh
I stood on the banks of Jordan {Lord have mercy}
[Lord just] to see those ships [the old ship of Zion] go by


Verse #1
{And when I saw it} I said Lord I got my ticket
Please don't leave me down here
You took back my father You came back and got my mother
You took everything from me that was so dear

Chorus:
{and all I could do was} stand there on the banks of Jordon [mother was goin home]
Just to see those ships go sails go sailing Oh-oh-ooh.
I stood on Jordan [God knows I did]
to see those ships go by.

Verse #2
{Listen} I know she's waitin and watchin.
I told her I'll be home after while.
[Oh] Those were the last words I ever told my mother.
She closed her eyes and she went on to glory with a smile.

Chorus:
I stood on the banks of Jordan [my heart was heavy]
Just to see those sails go sailing-Oh-oh-ooh
I stood on the banks of Jordan [God knows I did]
Just to see those ships go by.

Verse #3
Lord, I sure got my ticket.
And it's stamped for glory land.
I don't want that ole ship to leave me.
That's the only transportation I got to glory land.

Chorus:
I stood there on the Jordan
Just to see those ships go sailing {Ooh-oh-ooh}.
I stood on the banks of Jordan {God knows I did}.
Just to see those ships go by.
[repeat this last line a number of times with extemporaneous words added by the soloist].

-snip-

Since I couldn't find the lyrics to this song online, I transcribed them from this YouTube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cVMV3FtwSw
"Stood On The Banks Of The Jordan" - Jessy Dixon.

Note that the title is
"Stood on the banks of Jordan. However, until the last chorus, Jessy Dixon sang "I Stood On The Banks Of Jordan".

The words in brackets are what I believe are that soloist's ad-lib lyrics. I may have missed other ad-lib words in the verses. I didn't attempt to transcribe Jessy Dixon's extemporaneous words at the end of this song. Of course, another soloist could sing other ad-lib words or no extemporaneous words at all.

**

Click to read the biography of Rev. James Cleveland