The WELL: deadsongs.vue.113: Jordan (Cold Jordan)

#16: Bryan Miller (bamfinney) Mon 4 Sep 06 20:44

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 20:44:00 PDT

this is from a post in exFolk forum website:

From Gary B. Reid's notes to The Stanley Brothers: The Early Years 1958-1961 (4-disc set; Stardy/King KBSCD-7000):

" "Jordan" is thought by many to be an older traditional song but it was written in 1954 by Fred Rich, a gospel songwriter from northern Georgia who conceived the chorus of the song at the Co-op where he worked in Blairsville, Georgia."

Rich was a gospel song contributor to singing conventions in Georgia that eventually became state-wide all-day functions. [Read entire topic]

#15: Paul Keniston (cross-road) Sat 16 Apr 05 16:12

Sat, 16 Apr 2005 16:12:00 PDT

Let's step back and simply see this song as a metaphor for reaching a goal.

This song tells the tale of the struggle to find a way to reach the promised land knowing that there are no guarantees.

In this story of the Exodus , only two of the adults ( neither of whom was Moses)who departed the land of the Nile actually entered the Promised land. It also relates to the tale of the Christian Gospel depicting Jesus as the true and living way into this desired destiny.

It is also a song of hope and encouragement alongside of a healthy fear of God.

Jerry may not have written the words, but it's interesting that he chose to sing that particular song at that particular moment in that particular environment.

He has just faced, as a valiant peacemaker, a violent conflict in Toronto and knows he's likely heading towards more of the same. It must have been enormously frustrating to find such a reception in Canada's attempt to recreate Woodstock.

It reminds me of another song of the genre which sang:

" we've got to get ourselves back to the garden"

another biblical metaphor alluding to that wonderful place we are hoping yet to arrive at.

'and that's where it's at, if you want to believe it' [Read entire topic]

#14: David Gans (tnf) Wed 30 Mar 05 16:24

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 16:24:00 PST

My own conversations with Jerry - on and off the record - did not elicit much in the way of religious talk from him. In fact, he recoiled when I suggested that the Grateful Dead served the purpose of religion in some people's lives.

That 1981 interview is published in "Conversations with the Dead." I'm 2500 miles from home so I can't give you a page number. [Read entire topic]

#13: neil (nlg) Wed 30 Mar 05 15:08

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 15:08:00 PST

While I think it true that overtly spiritual music spoke to Jerry in a fairly deep and profound way, and that he tried to pass along that spirit in his renditions of those songs and in his own music, I also think that one can fall into the trap of reading too much into this phenomenon. While I think it is wonderful when anyone finds their path, whether to the divine, the ground of being, the void, or whatever you want to call it (I personally do not believe in some center from which flows all things, and I consider myself a deeply spiritual person), I think it overreaching to make statements about one specific faith, religion or path with respect to Jerry's oevre, or the man himself and his beliefs, let alone humanity in general. [Read entire topic]

#12: Marked from the Day That I was Born (ssol) Wed 30 Mar 05 13:21

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 13:21:00 PST

Exactly. Then there are songs covered by the GD that were written and changed over time by entire communities, or handed down and evolved as they traveled across the country, from farmlands to cities, even from England and Scotland to America. [Read entire topic]

#11: David Gans (tnf) Wed 30 Mar 05 13:09

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 13:09:00 PST

Neither of them wrote "Cold Jordan." [Read entire topic]

#10: Marked from the Day That I was Born (ssol) Wed 30 Mar 05 13:08

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 13:08:00 PST

Hmmmmm... one of the beauties of Hunter & Garcia's little ditties is that almost anyone can see in them what they relate to.

Speaking of Hunter & Garcia, it's good to remember that Hunter and others (lyricists of the songs the GD covered) wrote those words, not Jerry. [Read entire topic]

#9: from PAUL KENISTON (tnf) Wed 30 Mar 05 08:02

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 08:02:00 PST

Paul Keniston writes:

I believe we all are on a spiritual quest to access the divine.

In the cosmic scheme of things, the central point can be called by so many names with so many roads leading to that place where it all rolls in of ( and out of) One.

It's that place where all is right and true and pure and enlightening. It's the spiritual essence of what I call Christ.

It saddens me that the church's influence appears to be the source of Jerry's guilt and shame when Jesus Christ is in truth the source of freedom from such baggage.

Even sadder that the point is a valid one. I'm also a product of the Roman Catholic Church.

I don't deny Jerry had his troubles, but when our Broken Angle sang from a guitar he would transcend the proverbial muck and mire. He knew how to tap into that place of inspiration and pour it out in song.

Jerry also knew that the inspiration wasn't limited only to him and delighted to see it expressing itself all over the stage and throughout the audience. All were invited to join in.

That's what I mean about seeing Chrisy coming through Jerry and touching people dep in their soul.

It's the unconditional love for freaks of all kinds. It's like Jehova's famous choir.

The point is...

If you want to hitch hike through the cosmoa, as all good pilgrims are wont to do,

'You better take Jesus with You! "

and I bid you good nite [Read entire topic]

#8: Marked from the Day That I was Born (ssol) Tue 29 Mar 05 10:07

Tue, 29 Mar 2005 10:07:00 PST

The joy and/or sorrow in those fine old gospel songs, and some of the new ones that mine the same vein, is just beautiful to express and almost universal to Humans. If one is questing for the spiritual, such music is a natural place to visit on one's personal map, I think. [Read entire topic]

#7: Robin Russell (rrussell8) Tue 29 Mar 05 07:23

Tue, 29 Mar 2005 07:23:00 PST

I feel an understanding of the spritual context of gospel music is not confined to committed christians. I do think you can feel and sing better (including gospel singing) if you can access the divine, but there are many ways to do that, and many ways of interpreting just what it is. [Read entire topic]