I looked to the East, I looked to the West
I saw John Ball a-coming and a-calling.
With four blind horses riding in the clouds
To look on the other side of Jordan.
Pull off your old coat and roll up your sleeves
Jordan is a hard road to travel I believe.
Thunder in the clouds, lightning in the trees
What do you think that I told him?
It's goodbye son till the next kingdom come
And I'll meet you on the other side of Jordan.
Pull off your old coat and roll up your sleeves
Jordan is a hard road to travel I believe.
The ladies of England have made a big address
'Bout slavery and hardships according.
They better look at home to their own white slaves
They're starving on the English side of Jordan.
Pull off your old coat and roll up your sleeves
Jordan is a hard road to travel I believe.
[instrumental]
There were snakes in Ireland not many years ago
St Patrick saw the vermin all a-crawling.
But with his shillelagh he hit them on the head
And he drove them 'cross the other side of Jordan.
Pull off your old coat and roll up your sleeves
Jordan is a hard road to travel I believe.
And Jonah spent three days in the belly of a whale
Three days and two nights then according.
He tickled him with a straw, which caused him to laugh
And he chucked him on the other side of Jordan.
Pull off your old coat and roll up your sleeves
Jordan is a hard road to travel I believe.
[instrumental]
Pull off your old coat and roll up your sleeves
Jordan is a hard road to travel I believe.