Scripture Verse

The twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. Revelation 21:21

Introduction

Words: Ed­ward H. Ne­vin, in Grove Songs No. 2, by Asa Hull (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Asa Hull, 1872), num­ber 1.

Music: Pear­ly Gate Asa Hull (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ne­vin (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Asa Hull (1828–1907)

Lyrics

The night is dark, the storm is loud;
Beneath its force the trees are bowed;
Yet still the pearly gate I see,
Where angels stand to welcome me.

Refrain

To welcome me, to welcome me,
The angels stand to welcome me.

My heart is sad, deep sorrows roll,
Like streams of fire across my soul;
And yet the pearly gate I see,
Where angels stand to welcome me.

Refrain

With fears without, and foes within,
I seem almost subdued by sin;
And yet the pearly gate I see,
Where angels stand to welcome me.

Refrain

The road is rough, my feet are sore,
I long to have the journey o’er;
And yet the pearly gate I see,
Where angels stand to welcome me.

Refrain

My eyes are dim, and faint my breath,
Within me are the seeds of death;
But still the pearly gate I see,
Where angels stand to welcome me.

Refrain

When life is gone, and in my breast
All grief and fears are hushed to rest,
I hope the pearly gate to see,
Where angels stand to welcome me.

Refrain