Always be ready! You don’t know when the Son of Man will come.
Luke 12:40
Words & Music: Charles E. Pollock, in The Christian Church Hymnal, edited by Harvey R. Christie (Cincinnati , Ohio: Standard Publishing, 1906), number 423, alt. (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Pollock (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
When Jesus shall come again
By and by,
I’ll be ready to go;
He’s promised to gather
His saints in the sky—
I’ll be ready to go.
Refrain
I’ll be ready, I’ll be ready,
I’ll be ready to go;
I’ll be ready, I’ll be ready,
I’ll be ready to go.
No matter what day or what
Hour it shall be,
I’ll be ready to go;
The signs of His coming
I’m watching to see—
I’ll be ready to go.
Refrain
Should He come in morning, or
At the noon day,
I’ll be ready to go;
Or late in the evening
As light fades away—
I’ll be ready to go.
Refrain
But if the Lord tarry till
Midnight so late,
I’ll be ready to go;
With lamp trimmed and burning
I’ll patiently wait—
I’ll be ready to go.
Refrain
I long for His coming, I
Sigh for sweet rest;
I’ll be ready to go;
He’ll take me to Heaven,
The home of the blest—
I’ll be ready to go.
Refrain