Scripture Verse

Everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy. Isaiah 51:11

Introduction

portrait
James Stanley (1869–1954)

Words & Mu­sic: James H. Stan­ley, in Trin­ity Songs of Faith, Hope and Love, ed­it­ed by J. Hen­ry Sho­wal­ter & Ho­mer F. Mor­ris (Cull­man, Ala­ba­ma: South­ern Mu­sic, 1910) (🔊 pdf nwc).

With the mel­ody shift­ing back and forth be­tween the tre­ble and bass clefs, es­pe­cial­ly in the re­frain (see score for de­tails), this song is bet­ter suit­ed for a choir than for cong­re­ga­tion­al sing­ing. And ev­en for a choir, it al­most cer­tain­ly needs re­ar­rang­ing so the lyr­ics more clos­ely match the mu­sic.

Lyrics

When the great day of all days comes to one and to all,
And the King of all kings shall ap­pear,
There will be joy for the ones who are rea­dy to go;
They shall re­joice when the day draw­eth near.

Refrain

There will be joy, joy for all,
When the re­deemed, court shall come,
There will be joy, joy for all,
The re­deemed shall reach their home.

Will you be rea­dy to stand in the great court of God?
Do you fear for the day to ar­rive?
Will there be joy wait­ing you at the right hand of God?
Do you feel sure you’ve ob­tained last­ing life?

Refrain

There will be joy for the ones who have fol­lowed the Lord,
Thro’ the toils of this life here be­low;
They will re­joice in the day when the sum­mons shall come;
They will be willing and ready to go.

Refrain