You know that feeling when a song just wraps around your heart and doesn’t let go? That’s exactly what happened the first time I listened to “Far Side Banks of Jordan.” It’s one of those timeless tunes that speaks to the deepest parts of us—the parts that grapple with love, loss, and the hope of something beyond this life.
What I love most about this song is how it turns something as heavy as the thought of passing on into a comforting promise. It paints this vivid picture of reunion, where loved ones meet again on the other side, and that imagery is just so moving. Every time I hear it, I can’t help but think of the people I’ve lost and feel a sense of peace, almost like they’re not so far away after all.
The duet versions are especially touching. When you hear two voices harmonizing, it’s like a conversation between souls, each one reassuring the other. It’s not just about mourning; it’s about celebrating a love that even time and distance can’t erase. And in a world that can often feel so uncertain, there’s something incredibly reassuring about that message.
Have you ever had a song make you feel simultaneously sad and hopeful? That’s the magic this song holds. It doesn’t shy away from the reality of goodbyes, but it also doesn’t let us forget that endings can be beginnings too.
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Lyrics
I believe my steps are growing wearier each day
Still I’ve got a journey on my mind
Lures of this old world have ceased to make me want to stay
and my one regret is leaving you behind
And I’ll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan
I’ll be waiting drawing pictures in the sand
And when I see you coming I will rise up with a shout!
And come running through the shallow waters reaching for your hand
If it proves to be his will that I’m the first to go
And some how I’ve a feeling it will be
When it comes time to travel likewise don’t feel lost
For I will be the first one that you’ll see
And I’ll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan
I’ll be waiting drawing pictures in the sand
And when I see you coming I will rise up with a shout!
And come running through the shallow waters reaching for your hand
Through this life we’ve laboured hard to earn our meager fare
It’s brought us trembling hands and failing eyes
I’ll just rest here on this shore and turn my eyes away
And then you’ll come then we’ll see paradise
And I’ll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan
I’ll be waiting drawing pictures in the sand
And when I see you coming I will rise up with a shout!
And come running through the shallow waters reaching for your hand.