Scripture Verse

I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20

Introduction

Words: Je­re­mi­ah E. Rank­in, in Gos­pel Bells, com­piled by Rank­in, John W. Bisch­off & Otis Pres­brey (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: West­ern Sun­day School Pub­lish­ing, 1880).

Music: God Be with You Will­iam G. To­mer, 1880 (🔊 pdf nwc). At the time, To­mer was mu­sic di­rect­or at Grace Me­tho­dist Epis­co­pal Church in Wash­ing­ton, DC.

Alternate Tune:

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

portrait
Jeremiah E. Rankin (1828–1904)

Origin of the Hymn

Written…as a Chris­tian good-bye, it was called forth by no per­son or oc­ca­sion, but was de­lib­er­ate­ly com­posed as a Chris­tian hymn on the ba­sis of the ety­mo­lo­gy of good-bye, which is God be with you. The first stan­za was writ­ten and sent to two com­pos­ers—one of unu­su­al note, the other whol­ly un­known and not tho­rough­ly edu­cat­ed in mu­sic. I se­lect­ed the com­po­si­tion of the lat­ter, sub­mit­ted it to J. W. Bisch­off—the mu­sic­al di­rect­or of a lit­tle book we were pre­par­ing—who app­roved of it, but made some cri­ti­cisms, which were adopt­ed.

It was sung for the first time one ev­en­ing in the First Cong­re­ga­tion­al Church in Wash­ing­ton, of which I was then the pas­tor and Mr. Bisch­off the org­an­ist. I at­trib­ut­ed its po­pu­la­ri­ty in no lit­tle part to the mu­sic to which it was set. It was a wed­ding of words and mu­sic, at which it was my func­tion to pre­side; but Mr. Tom­er should have his full share of the fa­mi­ly hon­or.

Sankey, p. 162

Lyrics

God be with you till we meet again;
By His coun­sels guide, up­hold you,
With His sheep se­cure­ly fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Je­sus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Neath His wings pro­tect­ing hide you;
Daily man­na still pro­vide you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
With the oil of joy an­oint you;
Sacred min­is­tries ap­point you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s pe­rils thick con­found you;
Put His arms un­fail­ing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
Of His pro­mis­es re­mind you;
For life’s up­per gar­ner bind you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
Sicknesses and sor­rows tak­ing,
Never leav­ing or for­sak­ing;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s ban­ner float­ing o’er you,
Strike death’s threat­en­ing wave be­fore you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

God be with you till we meet again;
Ended when for you earth’s sto­ry,
Israel’s cha­ri­ot sweep to glo­ry;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain