For Winter Quarter 1986, I called my morning-jazz program on Stanford's student-run radio station KZSU "From the Mountain to the Crossing". Every show began with "The Mountain", by South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, from "Water from an Ancient Well" (1985). That began a journey through jazz old and new, which always ended with "The Crossing", by Detroit-born jazz singer Sheila Jordan (1928-2025). The title track of her 1984 album is a duet with bassist Harvie S: "And for those of you who wonder / what the crossing means to me: / it's the love I have when I'm singing for you. / Oh the spirit of the music sets me free." (Andrew Shields, #111Words, 12 August 2025)
The Crossing (Sheila Jordan)
There are moments in your lifetime
when the whole world seems insane.
If you search beyond the madness,
there is peace of mind to gain.
Where there is no time or season
and there is no fear or strain,
take your troubles to the crossing.
It's where joy outweighs our pain.
Oh the crossing, oh the crossing,
it's been known by many names.
Some have found it through religion,
putting faith in God each day.
When the world seems lost and shattered
and your dreams have gone astray,
never seek out self-destruction.
There's a crossing that can help you find a way.
Oh the crossing, oh the crossing,
what a blessing it can be.
When you're feeling down and lonely,
there's an answer; there's a key.
And for those of you who wonder
what the crossing means to me:
it's the love I have when I'm singing for you.
Oh the spirit of the music sets me free.
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