Will You Be There?

1 Beyond this life of hopes and fears,
Beyond this world of griefs and tears,
There is a region fair,
It knows no change and no decay,
No night, but one unending day,

Chorus:
Oh, say, will you be there?
Oh, say, will you be there?
Oh, say, oh, say, oh, say, will you be there?

2 Its glorious gates are closed to sin;
Nought that defiles can enter in
To mar its beauty rare.
Upon that bright, eternal shore,
Earth's bitter curse is known no more.
Oh say, will you be there?

3 No drooping form, no tearful eye,
No hoary head, no weary sigh,
No pain, no grief, no care;
But joys which mortals may not know
Like a calm river, ever flow.
Oh say, will you be there?

4 Our Saviour, once as mortal child,
As mortal man, by man reviled,
There many crowns doth wear;
While thousand thousands swell the strain
Of glory to the Lamb once slain!
Oh, they shall all be there!

5 Who shall be there? The lowly here--
All those who serve the Lord in fear,
The world's proud mockery dare;
Who, by the Holy Spirit led,
Rejoice the narrow path to tread:--
Oh, they shall all be there!

6 Those who have learnt at Jesus' cross
All earthly gain to count but loss,
So that his love they share;
Who, gazing at the Crucified,
By faith can say, 'For me he died;'
Oh, they shall all be there!

7 Will you be there? You shall, you must,
If, hating sin, in Christ you trust,
Who did that place prepare.
Still doth his voice sound sweetly, 'Come!
I am the way--I'll lead you home--
With me, you shall be there!'

Source: The Little Seraph: in seven character notes, for churches and Sunday-schools #134b