“March Down to Jerdon” is a spiritual arrangement for voice and piano by Eva Jessye. The song is the eighth arrangement included in Jessye’s book My Spirituals (1927). In the song’s preface, Jessye describes how this song was used in baptism ceremonies at the Verdigris River, about two miles away from her church in Coffeyville. Jessye writes, “‘On Jerdon’s Stormy Bank I Stand’ is a baptismal song common to all section of the country but in this particular locality, ‘March Down To Jerdon,’ was just as often used. It would be sung while two deacons escorted the candidates down to the waiting elder. He, in turn had been preceded by a brother who carried a stick with which to locate the proper depth in the river. Every true convert was expected to show the power of the spirit as he came back to shore and the swaying congregation was keenly disappointed if there was no hysterical display of emotion.”
Print vitals & song textYes, I’m gwine to march down!
March down
yes, I’m gwine to march down to Jerdon,
Hallelu!
Yes, I’m gwine to march down!
March down
yes, I’m gwine to march down to Jerdon,
Hallelu!
Oh whar yo’ gwine mourmah,
Oh whar yo’ gwine I say?
Gwine down to de ribber of Jerdon,
For to wash my sins away.
Yes, I’m gwine tu march down!
March down
yes, I’m gwine tu march down to Jerdon,
Hallelujah!
Source: Jessye, Eva. My Spirituals. New York: Robbins-Engel, 1927.
