Scripture Verse

The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Revelation 21:23

Introduction

portrait
Johnson Oatman, Jr.
1856–1922

Words: John­son Oat­man, Jr., in The Best Gos­pel Songs and Their Com­pos­ers (Dal­ton, Geor­gia: An­tho­ny J. Sho­wal­ter, 1904), num­ber 124.

Music: Frank B. Smith (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Smith (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Oat­man,

Lyrics

Though the shadows gather
O’er our pathway here,
Though the day may not be bright and fair,
Yet the thought of Heaven
Brings us hope and cheer,
For the skies are always bright up there.

Refrain

Oh, the skies are always bright up there,
Yes, the skies are always bright up there;
No storm clouds hover o’er
The city of our God,
For the skies are always bright up there.

Night ne’er draws her curtains
O’er that peaceful shore,
There ’tis light forever, everywhere;
There the gloom of midnight
We shall know no more,
For the skies are always bright up there.

Refrain

So through clouds and shadows
We will wend our way,
Till we reach that city bright and fair;
Then we’ll rest forever
In those realms of day,
For the skies are always bright up there.

Refrain