Scripture Verse

They sang as it were a new song before the throne. Revelation 14:3

Introduction

portrait
George C. Hugg (1848–1907)

Words: John­son Oat­man, Jr., in Light in the Val­ley (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: George C. Hugg, 1898), num­ber 192.

Music: Kirk­land George C. Hugg (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Oat­man or Hugg,

portrait
Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1856–1922)

Anecdote

At a me­mo­ri­al ser­vice, held at Ches­ter Heights Camp Meeting, Aug. 2, 1897, a great wave of re­li­gious en­thu­si­asm passed ov­er the au­di­ence when Rev. C. M. Bos­well said, con­cern­ing Rev. Wm. Swin­dells, D.D., He is away from us to-day, but he is just across the blue, await­ing the time for us to come and greet him there. Let us send him word that we will be sure to come.

From Light in the Val­ley

Lyrics

Beyond the stars our loved ones wait,
And watch for us be­side the gate;
They wait for me, they watch for you,
In that fair land across the blue.

Refrain

Across the blue, across the blue,
From Pis­gah’s height be­hold the view;
Friends wait for me and watch for you,
In sin­less land, across the blue.

We long to join our loved ones there,
And with them breathe on Hea­ven’s air
The song that is for­ev­er new,
In glo­ry land, across the blue.

Refrain

When we shall reach the streets of gold,
We will our Sav­ior’s face be­hold;
We’ll kiss the hand that led us thro’
To man­sions fair across the blue.

Refrain

Then let us work and do our best,
Soon God will take us home to rest;
For if He finds us tried and true,
We’ll live with Him across the blue.

Refrain

Till then, my soul, be still and wait;
Soon thou wilt pass the pear­ly gate;
Then what a meet­ing will en­sue
With those we love across the blue.

Refrain