Heard on The Judges: "over GEOGRAPHICAL LOC"

[Charles Doyle]

It seems like a short grammatical step from "over yonder" or "over there" to "over <locative:> home." Still, "over Jordan" isn't quite parallel with "over home": that is, "over" 'across' vs. "over" 'to'. I've always found curious that pair of lines in the old song.

--Charlie
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---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 15:02:52 -0400
>From: Mark Mandel <thnidu at GMAIL.COM>
>
>I'm just a-goin' over Jordan,
>I'm just a-goin' over home.
>   "Wayfaring Stranger" (a spiritual)
>
>The song, including these lines and specifically "over home", is
>attested at least as of 1858. See
>http://supersearch.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=23495#624401  :
>
>>>>BEGIN QUOTE>>>
>
>Subject: Lyr Add: GOING OVER JORDAN (WAYFARING STRANGER)
>From: Burke
>Date: 09 Jan 02 - 06:52 PM
>
>GOING OVER JORDAN (Wayfaring Stranger)
>8s & 9s
>
>1. I am a pilgrim and a stranger,
>While wandering through this world of woe;
>But there's no sickness, death, nor sorrow,
>In that bright world to which I go.
>
>CHORUS:
>I'm going there to see my father,
>I'm going there to see my Lord;
>I'm just a going over Jordan,
>I'm just a going over home.
>
>...
>
>From: Beaver, John., The Christian Songster, Dayton, Ohio: Printing
>establishment of the United Brethren in Christ, 1858. Text only, no.
>23, p. 34. Reproduced in: Garst, John F., "Poor Wayfaring
>Stranger--Early Publications." The Hymn, v. 31, no.2 (1980): p.97-101.
>@religion @hymn @spiritual
>
><<< END QUOTE<<<
>
>On Wed, May 14, 2008 at 1:14 PM, Wilson Gray <hwgray at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> These uses of "up home, down home" are new to me. But "over home"
>> seems fine, though not necessarily with so specific a meaning, of
>> course. ;-)
>>
>> -Wilson
>
>Mark Mandel
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
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