Almost Home

1 Softly falls the length'ning shadows,
Calmly sinks life's setting sun;
Death's dark night o'er one is stealing,
For his earthly course is run.
Can naught cheer the lonely trav'ler,
Thro' the gloomy, narrow way?
Must the soul go forth in darkness,
At the closing of the day?

2 Thro' the valley of death's shadow
Can no ray of brightness gleam?
Must the wand'rer, faint and weary,
Cross alone the cold dark stream?
Oh! a Father's hand outreaches,
And His staff shall be my guide,
Which will lead the way-worn pilgrim
Safely to the other side.

3 Lo! the people mourn in sorrow,
As with bowed, uncovered head,
Round the bier they sadly gather,
To deplore the honored dead.
Mingled with your tears and sighing,
This glad tho't must ever come,
That life's latest hour did find him
"Almost home," yes, almost home!

4 "Almost home," the light is breaking,
And the glorious dawn of day
Bursts upon the spirit's vision,
As from earth it soars away.
Sweet the strains of angel voices,
Sounding thro' the heav'nly dome,
On their golden harps are sounding
The glad tidings, "Almost home!"

Source: New Sacred Quartettes for Male, Female and Mixed Voices #21