Scripture Verse

Happy are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorposts. Proverbs 8:34

Introduction

Words: Ma­ry P. Grif­fin, in The Sab­bath School Gem, by Asa Hull (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: H. V. De­gen & Son, 1863), num­ber 8, alt. Note: This source does not name the au­thor, but Grif­fin is cred­it­ed in nu­mer­ous sub­se­quent pub­li­ca­tions.

Music: Thes­sa­lo­ni­ki Asa Hull (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Grif­fin’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of her (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Asa Hull (1828–1907)

Lyrics

We are wait­ing by the ri­ver,
We are wait­ing on the shore,
Only wait­ing for the boat­man,
Soon he’ll come to bear us o’er.

Refrain

We are wait­ing by the ri­ver,
We are wait­ing on the shore,
Only wait­ing for the boat­man,
Soon he’ll come to bear us o’er.

Though the mist hang o’er the river,
And its bi­llows loud­ly roar,
Yet we hear the song of an­gels,
Wafted on the oth­er shore.

Refrain

From the bright ce­les­ti­al ci­ty,
We have caught such ra­di­ant gleams,
Of its tow­ers like dazz­ling sun­light,
With its sweet and peace­ful streams.

Refrain

He has called for ma­ny a loved one,
We have seen them leave our side,
With our Sav­ior we shall meet them,
When we, too, have crossed the tide.

Refrain

When we’ve passed that vale of sha­dows,
With its dark and chill­ing tide;
In that bright and glo­ri­ous ci­ty
We shall ev­er­more abide.

Refrain