The Web is a wonderful thing. You can accost perfect strangers and ask for their help. And often, they'll oblige. I found the name of a history professor at GW who is on the board of the National Museum of American History. I proposed the following answer: >So what is "Jordan"? The line seems to be a Civil War era phrase >but I cannot find a source that actually explains its meaning. I'm guessing >that it implies that reaching the promised land (in this context, freedom >from slavery) is not an easy task. His reply: >I do not know the specifics of the terms, but I think you are right. Jordan >refers to the line between freedom and slavery (generally the Jordan River). >More than that I do not know. I have an inquiry out to two other history mavens. We'll see. Jeff http://departments.mwc.edu/hipr/www/206/songtext/uncle_dave_macon.txt ================================================ I hope that you will excuse this intrusion. I have been looking for some insight on the historical meaning of the phrase "Jordan is a hard road to travel". In looking for someone to help me, I stumbled across your name on the Internet. I hope that you will be able to provide some assistance. From what I can gather, this is the title of an old minstrel tune by Daniel Emmett. So what is "Jordan"? The line seems to be a Civil War era phrase but I cannot find a source that actually explains its meaning. I'm guessing that it implies that reaching the promised land (in this context, freedom from slavery) is not an easy task. But I'm rather weak on my Old Testament. When used as a phrase by the comman man, what did it mean? FYI. I'm not a student and I'm not doing a research paper! I've listened to artists performing this song for a long time. Recently I've had my own "hard road" to travel and I've become curious about the meaning of this one. Thank you for your time. ever curious, Jeffrey Altbush jeff@altbush.com Some references are given below: "Jordan is a hard road to travel" (1853) is generally accepted as by D. Emmett http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiJRDNHARD;ttRCHMNDHR.html http://nfo.net/.CAL/te2.html http://pw1.netcom.com/~edperry/battle.html Friday, May 27, 1864. Slept, or lay, very cold last night... Started about 6 o'clock from Lynchburg for Danville [Virginia], packed in some box cars. It is about 150 miles, and it took us 24 hours... What a painful night we passed! No sleep, no place to lie down nor scarcely to stand. No rations, and I think that Jordan is a hard road to travel. ====================== griffing@fnal.gov ================================= James O. Horton, Director, African American Communities Project. Professor of History and American Civilization, George Washington University. horton@gwu.edu I do not know the specifics of the terms, but I think you are right. Jordan refers to the line between freedom and slavery (generally the Jordan River). More than that I do not know. Good luck. ================================================== Patrick Rael prael@bowdoin.edu the reference is probably to Jordan as the Promised Land for the children of Israel. It is an Old Testament motif that appeared in a great many African-American spirituals. For the enslaved, Jordan would have represented a life free from bondage and oppression. Less literally, Jordan also stood for spiritual freedom, freedom from the bondage of Satan and the heaviness of a godless life. For Jordan to be a hard road to travel suggests that getting to the Promised Land -- either an actual world of political freedom or a more figurative one of spiritual freedom -- is not easy, and requires much hard work. ============================================================= Your curiosity is admirable. I am no expert on the matter, however. Your understanding of the expression's use and meaning is probably as good as mine. I had always assumed that, in this particular case, Mr. Gilbert was encouraging my g-g-grandfather to be steadfast in his anti-slavery views and to be determined to stay in Bloody Kansas where proslavery settlers were making things pretty "hot" for antislavery settlers. I believe it was a common expression for anyone with a cause who was facing adversity. -- Griff William Griffing griffing@fnal.gov http://www.griffingweb.com/new_page_1.htm