Scripture Verse

Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14

Introduction

Words: Jen­nie L. Ly­all. The lyr­ics be­low come from the same source as the mu­sic, but there is ap­par­ent­ly an ear­li­er ver­sion of the text in The Truth Seek­er Col­lect­ion of Forms, Hymns and Re­ci­ta­tions, by D. M. Ben­nett (New York: Li­ber­al and Sci­en­ti­fic Pub­li­ca­tions, 1877). Its op­en­ing line was There are chains of so­cial un­ion.

Music: Frank J. Ro­bert­son, in Augs­burg Songs No. 2 (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Lu­ther­an Pub­li­ca­tion So­ci­ety, 1893), num­ber 97 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

There are but two ways in life, my friend,
The wrong and the right, the false and the true;
They’re coun­ter to each from end to end,
Save eter­ni­ty lim­its the two.

Refrain

There are but two ways, but two ways in life,
There are but two ways, but two ways in life;
The one leads to glo­ry, and the oth­er leads to death:
Oh, which of the two will you take?

There are but two roads in life, my friend,
The straight and nar­row, the broad and the plain;
Think well which one you will take, my friend,
You will ne’er tra­vel this way again.

Refrain

The one is be­set with foes, my friend,
’Tis full of al­lure­ments, but dan­ger is there;
The oth­er leads stea­di­ly on, my friend,
To a Heav’n that is bright and fair.

Refrain