The near­er I reach the end of life,
The sweet­er is home to me;
I long for the frag­rant flow’rs that grow
On the banks of the crys­tal sea.

Refrain

Home, home, heav­en­ly home,
Fair are my dreams of thee;
The near­er I reach the end of time,
The sweet­er thou art to me.

The near­er the fad­ing of the leaf,
The bright­er the col­ors grow;
I sigh, when the even­ing sha­dows fall,
For the light of the morn­ing glow.

Refrain

The near­er I reach the banks of bloom,
The fair­er the breez­es blow;
The nearer I reach the Fount of Love,
Then the sweet­er the wa­ters flow.

Refrain

The near­er I reach the morn­ing land,
The fair­er the gold­en light;
My eyes in the ga­ther­ing mists grow dim,
Then the clear­er im­mor­tal sight.

Refrain