New From Mike & Marty: “Far Side Banks of Jordan”

“Far Side Banks of Jordan” is a gospel song many may know from funeral or memorial services. Mike and Marty have now released their own version of it. And I can say this is one of my new favorites by the brother and sister duo.

Why is that? Well, the singing on this one is amazing. It’s always good from these two, but I really like the interplay of their voices in this one (listen til the end). It’s just a beautiful song.

It’s a very understated production as well – just some lovely guitar playing by Conrad Fisher to accompany them – which really lets those voices shine. The video has them appropriately singing at a river’s edge.

This one follows their take on “Vision of Mother” from back in August. That song and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” before it were both about losing a mother. This one is about a husband and wife, and which of them will be the first to go.

The song was written by Terry Smith, who moved to Nashville from Texas in 1972 and taught school by day while spending afternoons and evenings pitching songs on Music Row. He wrote “Far Side Banks of Jordan” in the early 1970s, but was not the first to record it.

That was Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, who first released it in 1976. In their version, June sings the verse about dying first – and in real life, June did pass before Johnny, just a few months prior to his passing in 2003. The song has since been recorded by over 300 artists.

Here are the lyrics as they sing them (more or less – the bit at the very end has them singing two separate parts over each other, with slightly different words):

Far Side Banks of Jordan – 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

If it proves to be His will that I am first to go
And somehow I’ve a feeling it will be
When it comes your 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 labored 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
Until you come, and 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

Have a listen to Mike & Marty’s take on “Far Side Banks of Jordan” here: