The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
Proverbs 22:2
Words: Fanny Crosby, in Songs of Joy and Gladness, edited by William Kirkpatrick et al. (Boston, Massachusetts: McDonald & Gill, 1885). Some hymnals give the author as Henrietta Blair, one of Fanny’s pseudonyms.
Music: William J. Kirkpatrick (🔊 pdf nwc).
Kirkie [Kirkpatrick] was leaving Fanny’s flat one day after an all too brief visit.
Oh dear, it’s nothing but meeting and parting in this world, isn’t it?she remarked. The jovial Professor replied,Well, I will not say, as Bliss did,This inspired Fanny to write a hymn entitled Meet Me There, for which Kirkpatrick supplied the music.Meet me at the fountain,but I will say,Where the tree of life is blooming, meet me there.Ruffin, p. 142
On the happy, golden shore,
Where the faithful part no more,
When the storms of life are over,
Meet me there;
Where the night dissolves away
Into pure and perfect day,
I am going home to stay—meet me there.
Refrain
Meet me there, meet me there,
Where the tree of life is blooming,
Meet me there;
When the storms of life are o’er,
On the happy golden shore,
Where the faithful part no more,
Meet me there.
Here our fondest hopes are vain,
Dearest links are rent in twain,
But in Heav’n no throb of pain—
Meet me there;
By the river sparkling bright
In the city of delight,
Where our faith is lost in sight,
Meet me there.
Refrain
Where the harps of angels ring,
And the blest forever sing,
In the palace of the King,
Meet me there;
Where in sweet communion blend
Heart with heart and friend with friend,
In a world that ne’er shall end,
Meet me there.
Refrain