Scripture Verse

Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14

Introduction

Words: An­na F. Peck­ham, in Heav­en­ward, by James R. Mur­ray (Cleve­land, Ohio: S. Brain­ard’s Sons, 1877), page 62. How­ev­er, the words al­so ap­pear, at­trib­ut­ed to Bel­la, in The Co­ro­net, by George F. Root (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Root & Ca­dy, 1865), page 152, when Peck­ham was on­ly 13 years old. They are not at­trib­ut­ed to Peck­ham un­til the 1881 Ban­ner of Vic­to­ry.

Music: Mer­ritt J. Mun­ger, The Ban­ner of Vic­to­ry (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ol­iv­er Dit­son, 1881), page 64 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Mun­ger or Peck­ham (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Thro’ the mists of shadows dreary,
O’er the dark and stormy sea,
Came a voice of heav’nly music,
Floating thro’ the gloom to me;
’Twas a voice of wondrous sweetness,
Bringing words of hope and love,
Whispering to my troubled spirit,
Dark below, but light above.

Refrain

’Twas a voice of wondrous sweetness,
Bringing words of hope and love,
Whispering to my troubled spirit,
Dark below, but light above.

Often when life’s shadows gather
Round my weary troubled soul,
Comes that voice of angel sweetness,
Whispering I am near the goal;
Telling me, in softened murmurs,
Bringing words of hope and love,
Saying to my doubting spirit,
Dark below, but light above.

Refrain

Soon I’ll reach those golden portals,
Soon I’ll cross life’s troubled sea,
Whence that voice of music floating,
Came and whispered hope to me;
There in Heav’n’s own light forever,
In that sunlight of God’s love,
Shall I find that saying truthful,
Dark below, but light above.

Refrain