Lyrics
(Leader) Get Away
Get Away Jordan
(Leader) Get Away
Get Away Old Chilly Jordan
(Leader) Oh! Get Away
Get Away Jordan
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(((((((Repeat))))))
(Leader) You know I promised the Lord if he would set me free
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader) Ill go on and find out what the end might be
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader)One day, one day as I was walking along
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader)Yea, you know I heard a voice but I saw no one
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader)You know the voice I heard sounded so sweet chil
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader) Came down from my head to the sole of my feet
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader) Get Away
Get Away Jordan
(Leader) Get Away
Get Away Old Chilly Jordan
(Leader) Oh! Get Back
Get back Jordan
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader)You know one of these mornings it wont be long
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader) You gonna look for me chil and Ill be gone
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader) But a few more risings and settings of the sun
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader)This old battle be fought and the victory won
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader) You know the friends that I used to love so dear
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader) Theyve gone on to Glory and left me here
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
(Leader) When my feet gets cold, my eyes are shut, my bodys been chilled by the hand of death.
Tongue glued to the roof of my mouth, my hands lay folded across my breast, You dont have to worry about the I felt, God Almighty done told me hell be right there. Pick me up oer his wings of love, and carry my soul to the Heaven up above. They tell that Jordan is deep and wide, but I promise Mother Ill see her on the other side.
(Leader) Get Away
Get Away Jordan
(Leader) Get Away
Get Away Old Chilly Jordan
(Leader) Oh! Get Back
Get back Jordan
I wanna cross over to see my Lord
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“Get Away Jordan” uses the crossing of the Jordan River as an image of passing from earthly struggle into the presence of the Lord. The recurring call to Jordan and the answer about crossing over create a leader-and-chorus exchange rooted in gospel tradition. Personal testimony fills the verses: deliverance brings a promise of continued faithfulness, while the passing of loved ones sharpens the longing for reunion in glory.
The song does not minimize death. Cold feet, closed eyes, and a stilled body are described plainly, yet fear is answered by confidence that God will remain near and carry the soul home. Jordan therefore functions both as a biblical river and as a poetic boundary between mortal life and heaven. The anticipated crossing echoes the Christian hope of being received by Christ and seeing the Lord. By joining hardship, victory, death, and reunion, the song presents perseverance as a faith sustained by the promise of God’s presence beyond the final battle.
Related Scripture
- John 14:3 Jesus promises to receive his followers so that they may be where he is.
- Revelation 22:4 The redeemed are promised that they will see God’s face.
- Psalm 23:4 The psalm expresses confidence in God’s presence through the valley of death.