O the Joy That Awaits Me! › Representative Texts

1 Beyond the silent river,
In the glory summer-lands,
In the beautiful forever,
Where the jeweled city stands,
Where ever blooming flowers
Send forth their sweet perfume,
My heart’s most loved and cherished
In heav’nly beauty bloom.

Refrain:
Oh, the joy that there awaits me
When I reach that golden shore,
When I grasp the hands of loved ones,
To part with them no more.

2 And when I cross that river,
The first I will adore,
The first to bid me welcome,
Upon that golden shore,
Will be my loving Savior,
The one who died for me,
That in the long forever,
From sin I might be free. [Refrain]

3 The next one who will greet me,
In the mansions fair and bright,
Will be my sainted mother,
Arrayed in garments white;
And then the gray haired father,
Close pressing by her side,
Will grasp my hand with fervor,
Just o’er the swelling tide. [Refrain]

4 The curly headed brother
And little baby dear,
And bright eyed little sister,
With merry laugh and cheer,
Will all cluster round me,
To bid me welcome home,
And watch with me the gathering,
Of loved ones yet to come. [Refrain]

The Cyber Hymnal #9634