When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
1 Peter 5:4
Words: Alice Terrell, in The Salvation Soldier’s Song Book, by William Booth (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: George S. Railton, 1880).
Music: Edward E. Nickerson, in Rescue Songs, by Henry H. Hadley (New York: S. T. Gordon & Son, 1890) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Terrell, or a better one of Nickerson (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Oh! we are going to wear a crown,
To wear a starry crown.
Oh! we are going to wear a crown,
To wear a starry crown.
Refrain
Away over Jordan,
With my blessèd Jesus,
Away over Jordan,
To wear a starry crown.
You must repent to wear a crown,
To wear a starry crown.
You must repent to wear a crown,
To wear a starry crown.
Refrain
You must be saved to wear a crown,
To wear a starry crown.
You must be saved to wear a crown,
To wear a starry crown.
Refrain
You must be cleansed to wear that crown,
To wear that starry crown.
You must be cleansed to wear that crown,
To wear that starry crown.
Refrain
You must live right to wear that crown,
To wear that starry crown.
You must live right to wear that crown,
To wear that starry crown.
Refrain
You must fight the fight to wear that crown,
To wear that starry crown.
You must fight the fight to wear that crown,
To wear that starry crown.
Refrain
Some hymnals show additional verses. For example:
We’ll fight the fight and wear the crown…
O come, poor sinner, come with me…
My Savior’s gone to wear a crown…
The worst man here may wear a crown…
You must bear the cross to win that crown…