
Far Side Banks of Jordan is a song written by Terry Smith. It was originally released as a single by Johnny Cash and June Carter and later recorded on The Last Gunfighter Ballad in 1976. The song paints a picture of a loved one waiting on the other side of Jordan, and it has been recorded by several artists, including the Oak Ridge Boys and Jimmy Fortune. The song's emotional lyrics and uplifting message have resonated with many people, making it a beloved and well-known tune.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Writer | Terry Smith |
| Originally sung by | Johnny Cash |
| Sung with | June Carter Cash |
| Recorded by | Many artists, including The Marksmen, Jimmy Fortune, and The Oak Ridge Boys |
| Inspired by | The movie "Sounder" |
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What You'll Learn

Terry Smith wrote the song
Smith was inspired to write "Far-Side Banks of Jordan" in the fall of 1973 after his parents visited him and he learned of his uncle's passing. The song includes the verse:
> 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.
Smith has said that the song's imagery bears a strong resemblance to the homecoming scene in the film "Sounder", which he had watched before writing the song.
"Far-Side Banks of Jordan" has been recorded by numerous artists. Smith submitted a tape of gospel songs, including this one, to the Oak Ridge Boys' publishing company, Silverline, which signed the song. The Oak Ridge Boys then offered it to Johnny Cash, who originally sang it as a solo.
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It was inspired by the movie 'Sounder'
"Far Side Banks of Jordan" was written by Terry Smith and was originally released as a single by Johnny Cash and June Carter. Smith wrote the song while living in Nashville after moving from Texas, intending to teach school and pursue songwriting on the side. He moved into a two-story boarding house operated by Virgie Langford, known as "Granny," and soon after, he got a job with the Nashville metropolitan school system.
Smith was inspired to write the song after his parents visited him in the fall of 1973, and he learned that his uncle had passed away. His uncle was only in his 50s at the time of his death. Before his parents' visit, Smith had watched the movie "Sounder," and he was influenced by some of the scenes in the film.
The song's opening verse reflects Smith's emotions following his uncle's death and his desire for another journey, despite the weariness of his steps:
> "I believe my steps are growing wearier each day/Still I've got another journey on my mind/Lures of this old world have ceased to make me wanna stay/And my one regret is leaving..."
Smith himself acknowledged the influence of the movie "Sounder" on the song, particularly in the lyrics:
> "I'll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan/I'll be sitting 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."
According to Smith, these lines paint a picture that resembles the homecoming scene from "Sounder." The song's imagery of waiting and reaching out for a loved one's hand in the afterlife resonates with audiences and has become one of its most appealing and memorable aspects.
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Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded it
Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded "Far Side Banks of Jordan" in 1976 for the album "The Last Gunfighter Ballad". It was originally released as a solo single by Johnny Cash. Cash and Carter recorded the song as a duo a year after its initial release. The song was written by Terry Smith, who was inspired to write it after his parents visited him and he learned that his uncle had passed away. Smith wrote the song while living in Nashville and working for the Nashville metropolitan school system. He had moved from Texas intending to teach school and pursue songwriting on the side.
The song "Far Side Banks of Jordan" has been described as painting a picture with its words, with the lyrics: "I'll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan/I'll be sitting 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." These lines have been said to resemble the homecoming scene from the movie "Sounder", which Smith had watched and was influenced by.
Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash's recording of the song has been included on various albums, including "Keep On the Sunny Side: June Carter Cash – Her Life in Music" and "Press On". The former was released in 1952, and the latter in 2003.
The song "Far Side Banks of Jordan" has also been recorded by other artists, including the Oak Ridge Boys, who offered the song to Johnny Cash after signing it from Terry Smith.
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The Oak Ridge Boys offered it to Cash
Terry Smith wrote "Far Side Banks of Jordan," which was originally released as a single by Johnny Cash and June Carter. Smith wrote the song while living in Nashville after moving from Texas. He intended to teach and pursue songwriting on the side. Smith submitted a tape of gospel songs to the Oak Ridge Boys' publishing company, Silverline, which signed three songs, including "Far Side Banks of Jordan." The Oak Ridge Boys then offered the song to Johnny Cash, who originally sang it as a solo. Cash had previously worked with the Oak Ridge Boys, using them in his touring act and having them provide harmony on his single "Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup."
The Oak Ridge Boys are a country and gospel group founded in 1943 as Wally Fowler and the Georgia Clodhoppers. They became known as The Oak Ridge Quartet in the 1950s and transitioned to contemporary gospel before entering popular music in the mid-1970s. In 1973, the group signed with Columbia Records with Cash's help. They also appeared with Cash and the Carter Family on the single "Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup," which put the Oak Ridge Boys on the country charts for the first time.
The Oak Ridge Boys' two albums with Columbia Records did not receive much attention. However, the group's fortunes changed when they signed with country music promoter Jim Halsey, who encouraged them to transition from gospel to country music. The Oak Ridge Boys' first ABC Records album, "Y'all Come Back Saloon," was a commercial success, reaching #3 on the country charts in 1977. The group went on to achieve numerous other hits, including several #1 songs.
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It's been recorded by many artists
"Far Side Banks of Jordan", written by Terry Smith, has been recorded by many artists. It was originally released as a single by Johnny Cash, who was offered the song by the Oak Ridge Boys, and later recorded with June Carter Cash in 1976 on "The Last Gunfighter Ballad".
The song was inspired by Smith's uncle who had recently passed away, and some scenes from the movie "Sounder". Smith wrote the song while living in Nashville, having moved from Texas. He worked for the Nashville metropolitan school system and committed to submitting five tapes per week to publishers, producers, artists and anyone who would listen to his songs.
The song has been recorded by many artists, including the Oak Ridge Boys, the Robbinsville Quartet, The Marksmen, and Jimmy Fortune. It has been noted that the song's lyrics, particularly the verse "I'll be waiting on the far side banks of Jordan/I'll be sitting drawing pictures in the sand/And when I see you coming, I will rise up with the shout/And come running through the shallow waters, reaching for your hand", resonate with people and have a strong resemblance to the homecoming scene in "Sounder".
The song's popularity and poignancy are evident in how it has been used to comfort and uphold people during difficult times, such as the loss of a loved one.
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Frequently asked questions
Terry Smith wrote "Far Side Banks of Jordan".
Johnny Cash first sang the song as a solo. It was later recorded as a duet by Johnny Cash and June Carter.
Johnny Cash and June Carter released the song in 1976 as part of "The Last Gunfighter Ballad".
Terry Smith was inspired to write the song after his parents visited him and he learned that his uncle had passed away.













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