Today’s hymn is of traditional origin. Deep River is a song about longing for heaven, written over 150 years ago. The earliest printed evidence is from 1867. It’s performed above by Wilford Kelly.
” Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24 ESV)
Deep river, my home is over Jordan,
Deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.
Oh, don’t you want to go to that gospel feast,
That promised land where all is peace?
Oh, deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.
Thank you for this!
Tangentially, I really enjoyed singing the oratorio, A Child of Our Time (1944), by Michael Tippett, including his setting of “Deep River” (using spirituals where Bach would have used chorales).
I see “A Child of Our Time” is on YouTube. I’ll listen to it this weekend.