Lyrics for Jordan by Jana Horn
They called me to Jordan, said, "Boy, pack your things
The greatest bomb is coming to sort out the unclean
And if you go to Jordan, you'll face your enemies
But if you don't, you won't have more than your mother's grief
And when you go to Jordan, don't stop for anything
When she asks you if you're thirsty, and you are, don't have a drink
It's not your task to understand the power of your feet
You just must walk to Jordan, boy, because it's what we need"
So I, to Jordan, with nobody in tow
Do walk the day into the end of its shadow
With a mind to quiet the questions that I keep
Like a baby in the womb rocks its mother into sleep
And the road's so long, I do not know my name
By the time my body falls flat at Jordan's gate
And I cry, "Brother, sister, Mary Full of Grace
Please tell me what I've done to have been pulled up from my place"
And the gate unlocks and there before me stands
A man who is so dark, he has black bullets in his hands
And he says, "Friend, my friend, do you remember me?"
And I said, "You must be mistaken, sir, I came from Galilee"
"Why, yes, I know, and you have served me well
You have found the gates of Jordan despite every kind of hell
Now, please, you must take this burden off of me
I will blow my trumpet, boy, and you'll bomb Galilee"
"But, sir, I can't, that is my family
They are just as dark and troubled and burdened by belief
I can't be cut off from the shadow that was cast by my own feet
To thank God for his calling at the cost of Galilee"
Then he grabbed my arm, said, "Take this trumpet here
You can play your town a song while I take them by the ear
This is the way of things you simply do not understand
And I can only show you grace, dear boy, if you will take my hand"
So there I laid my body to rest
Having reached the gates of Jordan for the journey in itself
I cannot want to wander any longer through this hell
To be left for dead in Jordan and be called Emmanuel