Lyr Req: River of Jordan (from Peter Paul & Mary)

Subject: 'There is only one river'
From:
Date: 30 Jul 00 - 02:40 PM

Hi folks,

I've been looking for the lyrics (and guitar tab if possible) for an uplifting religious/folk song used in the comedy movie 'Airplane!' for years now with no luck, as far as I can remember the lyrics go:

I travelled the banks of the river of Jordan
To find where it flows to the see
I looked in the eyes of the cold and the hungry
And I found that I was looking at me

And I wanted to know if life had a purpose
And what it all means in the end
...

There is only one river
There is only one sea
And it flows through you
And it flows through me
There is only one people
We are one and the same
There is only one spirit, one name


etc.

If anyone could e-mail me with details of where I'm likely to find the lyrics and/or tablature I'd be very grateful!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'There is only one river'
From: Pene Azul
Date: 30 Jul 00 - 03:20 PM

As Joe pointed out in an earlier thread this is Peter Yarrows "River of Jordan." You can get the lyrics here (click).

(also emailed)

PA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'There is only one river'
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jul 00 - 03:22 PM

I've traveled the banks of the river of Jordan
To find where it flows to the sea
I looked in the eyes of the cold and the hungry
And I saw that I was looking at meeeeeee.
And I wanted to know if life had a purpose
And what it all means in the end
In the silence I listened to voices inside me
And they told me again and again.

There is only one river
There is only one sea
And it flows through you
And it flows through me
There is only one people
We are one in the same
We are all one spirit
One naaaaaaaaaaaammmme.
We are the father
We are one.
We are one.
We are one.

from: HEREPasted from a site that has part of the movie script in it. I tried to find out if this song was written for the movie, or was an existing song, but no luck on that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'There is only one river'
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jul 00 - 03:23 PM

(ships in the night, Pene)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'There is only one river'
From: Allan C.
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 09:20 AM

If you would like to hear this song, it is featured on WKSU's radio show archive. It is the fourth or fifth song on the Friday, July 28th show.

Click here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'There is only one river'
From:
Date: 03 May 05 - 02:45 PM

I also am looking for the lyrics to this song from AIRPLANE. Help!

Subject: ADD: River of Jordan (Peter Yarrow)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 May 05 - 04:59 PM

Here are the "official" lyrics, from peterpaulandmary.com. I'll e-mail a copy to the requestor. The song appeared first on a Warner Brothers LP called Peter, which came out shortly after the beginning of the group's 1971-78 breakup. Warner also had LP's titled Paul and and Mary.

I'm trying to remember the scene from Airplane!. I didn't remember that the fresh-scrubbed nun who sang this song on the movie was Maureen McGovern (was she related to George?). As she sang, she's swing the neck of her guitar back and forth, disconnecting the IV tubes from a critically-ill patient who then went into cardiac arrest or something. She sang so sweetly and sincerely during all this.

Last month, I went to the West Coast conference of Call to Action, a very sincere group of Catholic dissenters who want women to be ordained priests. We sang this song very sincerely at the conference and it was very nice and all, but all I could think of was Airplane! - and all those cute 1970's nuns were 30 years older. We also sang Yarrow's Light One Candle, using genuine lighted candles and another large dose of sincerity.

-Joe Offer-


RIVER OF JORDAN
Peter Yarrow- ©1972 Mary Beth Music, ASCAP

I traveled the banks of the River of Jordan
To find where it flows to the sea.
I looked in the eyes of the cold and the hungry
And I saw I was looking at me.
I wanted to know if life had a purpose
And what it all means in the end.
In the silence I listened to voices inside me
And they told me again and again.

There is only one river. There is only one sea.
And it flows through you, and it flows through me.
There is only one people. We are one and the same.
We are all one spirit. We are all one name.
We are the father, mother, daughter and son.
From the dawn of creation, we are one.
We are one.

Every blade of grass on the mountain
Every drop in the sea
Every cry of a newborn baby
Every prayer to be free
Every hope at the end of a rainbow
Every song ever sung
Is a part of the family of woman and man
And that means everyone.

We are only one river. We are only one sea.
And it flows through you, and it flows through me.
We are only one people. We are one and the same.
We are all one spirit. We are all one name.
We are the father, mother, daughter and son
From the dawn of creation, we are one.
We are one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There is only one river / River of Jo
From: GUEST
Date: 09 May 05 - 11:01 PM

My friends, thank you for posting the lyrics to RIVER OF JORDAN. Does anyone know if there would be a problem if I used this phrase from these lyrics: "There is only one river, there is only one sea..."? I write novels for young adults.
    Does anyone know who originally penned these lyrics and is there any standing copyright for these lyrics? How old is this tune/lyrics and where did it originate? (I think the Carter Family (A.P. Carter, etc.) used to sing this song in the 1920's or so, didn't they?)
Many thanks, Dave Mason
                  
                               [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There is only one river / River of Jordan
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 May 05 - 12:02 AM

Peer Music- (www.peermusic.com) holds A. P. Carter's copyright for "River of Jordan."
APRS/BMI hold 277 titles copyright by A. P. Carter; a real moneymaker.

However, there is more than one song by that title. Joe has given you the name of the copyright holder for the Yarrow song.

A lot of books pass through my hands, and if a copyright song is mentioned in the book, it is always made clear that the title or phrase is used with permission from the copyright holder.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There is only one river / River of Jordan
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 May 05 - 12:22 AM

Peter Yarrow "River of Jordan"- go to ASCAP
The title code is 480094548 at the ASCAP website. They give the full address for Mary Beth Music which is reached c/o Warner Chappell Music Inc. I believe they will give permission upon request and a brief description of your intended use.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There is only one river / River of Jordan
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 May 05 - 12:24 AM

Sorry!
http://www.ascap.com/ace: ascap

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There is only one river / River of Jo
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 05 - 02:14 AM

Many thanks for your help getting this information. Dave Mason

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There is only one river / River of Jo
From: GUEST,Robjungle
Date: 27 Mar 07 - 07:07 PM

Hi anyone know the guitar chords? Please email [e-mail]

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: RIVER OF JORDAN (Peter Yarrow)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 12:39 PM

Not being a guitarist, I have to rely on the chords provided in songbooks. This is from Songs, compiled by Yohann Anderson

RIVER OF JORDAN
Peter Yarrow- ©1972 Mary Beth Music, ASCAP

      D           Em           D
  I traveled the banks of the River of Jordan
       D             Em           A
  To find where it flows to the sea.
       Em          B7          Em            B7
  I looked in the eyes of the cold and the hungry
        Em          B7        Em
  And I saw I was looking at me.
     G                 Bm
  I wanted to know if life had a purpose
       G                        A
  And what it all means in the end.
          D         Em           D            Em
  In the silence I listened to voices inside me
            D         G         D
  And they told me again and again.
  
    D                 A                       D
  There is only one river. There is only one sea.
                        A                         D
  And it flows through you, and it flows through me.
                      Bm                        G
  There is only one people. We are one and the same.
                    E                    A
  We are all one spirit. We are all one name.
              D        G                   D
  We are the father, mother, daughter and son.
                      E              A
  From the dawn of creation, we are one.
          A
  We are one.
  
    D     Em       D            Em
  Every blade of grass on the mountain
    D     Em         A
  Every drop in the sea
    Em   B7       Em      B7
  Every cry of a newborn baby
    Em   B7           Em
  Every prayer to be free
    G                Bm
  Every hope at the end of a rainbow
          G        A
  Every song ever sung
        D            Em         D
  Is a part of the family of woman and man
    Em  D       G      D
  And that means everyone.
  
  We are only one river. We are only one sea.
  And it flows through you, and it flows through me.
  We are only one people. We are one and the same.
  We are all one spirit. We are all one name.
  We are the father, mother, daughter and son
  From the dawn of creation, we are one.
  We are one.

(E-MAIL SENT)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: River of Jordan (from Peter Paul & Mary)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 02:44 PM

You are great

Thank you !!!!