Lyr Add: Oh, Give Way Jordan (spiritual, work

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Give Way Jordan (spiritual, work
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 12:07 AM

Another song the Gospel Messengers do... I'll have to track down our source, as I was the one who introduced it to the group. I'll post the lyrics, too... I find it humorous that the two of you are so knowledgeable, and all I know is how to sing the song, and have so little knowledge of its history..

Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Oh, Give Way Jordan (spiritual, work
From: masato sakurai
Date: 26 Nov 01 - 10:34 PM

Roland Hayes sang "Give-a Way Jordan" on Roland Hayes: Favorite Spirituals (Vanguard Classics OVC 6022; also on 2-CD set Charlton Heston reads from the Life and passion of Jesus Christ/Roland Hayes: Favorite Spirituals, Vanguard Classics USA, OVC 6033/34). The printed version with piano arrangement is in Roland Hayes, My Favorite Spirituals (1948; Dover, 2001, pp. 38-40).

GIVE-A WAY, JORDAN

Give-a way, Jordan, give-a way, Jordan, Lord,
Give-a way, Jordan, I mus' go for to see my Lord.
Give-a way, Jordan, give-a way, Jordan, Lord,
Give-a way, Jordan, I mus' go for to see my Lord.

Nebuchadnezzar sat on his royal seat.
I mus' go for to see my Lord.
He saw the three Hebrew chillun boun' hands an' feet.
I mus' go for to see my Lord.

Give-a way, Jordan, give-a way, Jordan, Lord,
Give-a way, Jordan, I mus' go for to see my Lord.

~Masato

Subject: Oh, Give Way Jordan (spiritual, work)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Nov 01 - 04:37 PM

OH, GIVE WAY JORDAN

Cho.
Oh, give way, Jordan, give way, Jordan,
Oh, give way, Jordan,
I want to go across to see my Lord.

Oh, I heard a-sweet music up above,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
An' I wish dat music would come here,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
Oh, I heard sweet music in de air,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
An' I wish dat music would come here,
I want to go across to see my Lord.

Cho.

Oh, stow back, stow back de powers of Hell,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
An' let God's children take de field,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
Now stan' back Satan, let me go by,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
Gwine to serve my Jesus till I die,
I want to go across to see my Lord.

Cho.

Soon in de mornin' by de break ob day,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
See de ole ship ob Zion sailin' away,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
Now I mus' go across, an' I shall go across,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
Dis sinful world I count but dross,
I want to go across to see my Lord.

Cho.

Oh, I heard such a lumberin' in de sky,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
It make a-me t'ink my time was nigh,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
Yes, it mus' be my Jesus in de cloud,
I want to go across to see my Lord;
I nebber heard him speak so loud,
I want to go across to see my Lord.

Cho.

This old spiritual and work song was printed in Fenner, Cabin and Plantation Songs, 1874, and reprinted in Dett, Religious Folk Songs of the Negro, 1927. The rhyming and use of words such as dross and nigh suggest editing. Music is given in both Fenner and Dett.
Although reference to the River Jordan came from the Bible, the river took the characteristics of the water in the area in which the spiritual was created or used.
@religion @spiritual @work