I am wait­ing by the ri­ver
For the mes­sage to come o’er,
To the land of bliss eter­nal
Over on the oth­er shore;
There I’ll sing the praise of Je­sus,
And God’s ho­ly name ad­ore,
With the saints and ho­ly an­gels
Round the throne for­ev­er­more.

Refrain

Yes, I’m wait­ing by the ri­ver,
I am wait­ing to cross o’er
To that land of bliss eter­nal
Where I’ll sing the praise
Of Je­sus ev­er­more.

I am wait­ing by the ri­ver
And I hear the splash­ing oar
Of the boat­man who is com­ing
To con­duct me to that shore;
Where they ne­ver know a sor­row,
Neither sick­ness, pain or woe,
But with Christ, the bless­èd Sav­ior,
I shall live for­ev­er­more.

Refrain

I am wait­ing by the ri­ver
And I’m long­ing now to go
To that land where earth­ly sor­rows
I will ne­ver, ne­ver know;
There I hope to share God’s glo­ry,
With the saved upon that shore,
Who sur­round the throne of mer­cy,
And the Sav­ior there ad­ore.

Refrain