Hymnal: The Christian Psalmist
Date: 1848
Compiler: S W Leonard and A D Fillmore
Publisher/Printer: S W Leonard
First Line: I hear thee speak of the better land
Topic: <no topic given>
Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>
Composer:
Tune: The Better Land
Hymn Number: <no hymn number given>
Page Number: 219, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsI hear thee speak of the better land,
Thou callest its children a happy band,
Mother! O! where is that radiant shore,
Shall we not seek it, and weep no more?
Is it where the flower of the orange blows,
And the fire-flies dance in the myrtle boughs?
Not there! not there! Not there! not there.
Is it where the feathery palm trees rise,
And the date grows ripe under sunny skies,
Or 'midst the green islands of glittering seas,
Where fragrant forests perfume the breeze,
And strange bright birds on their starry wings
Bear the rich hues of all glorious things?
Not there! not there!
Is it far away in some region old,
Where the rivers wander o'er sands of gold,
And the burning rays of the rubies shine,
And the diamond lights up the secret mine?
And the pearl glows forth from the coral strand,
Is it there sweet mother, that better land?
Not there! not there!
Eye hath not seen it, my gentle boy,
Ear hath not heard its song of joy!
Dreams cannot picture a world so fair,
Sorrow and death may not enter there,
Time may not breathe on its fadeless bloom,
Far beyond the clouds and beyond the tomb!
'Tis there! 'Tis there!