Scripture Verse

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

Introduction

Words: Camp­bell Coyle, in The Pi­lot, ed­it­ed by Ro­bert H. Cole­man (Dal­las, Tex­as: Ro­bert H. Cole­man, 1922), alt.

Music: Al­ma­ty Ro­bert Hark­ness (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
Robert Harkness (1880–1961)

Lyrics

Beside the Cross I’m tent­ing, and I feel a pre­sence there
That touch­es me with rap­ture and heals all my pain and care;
The crim­son stream flows over me, it cov­ers all my sin;
My soul is filled with glo­ry that my soul and Christ are kin.

Refrain

Tenting by the Cross, yes, I’m tent­ing by the Cross;
I’ve tra­veled back to Cal­v’ry, and I’m tent­ing by the Cross.

No gold have I, or good­ness stored, eter­nal life to buy;
To pur­chase at such emp­ty price I’ve long since ceased to try;
My hope is built on bet­ter ground, all hu­man worth is dross;
I’ve tra­veled back to Cal­v’ry, and I’m tent­ing by the Cross.

Refrain

Beside the Cross I’m tent­ing, and I’ll by the Cross abide,
And shel­tered in my Sav­ior’s love for ev­er­more shall hide;
No pre­sent storm can harm me there, nor storm of time to come;
His pre­sence will pro­tect me, and will bring me safe­ly home.

Refrain

On moun­tain top He’s with me, He whose bless­èd name is Christ,
And I with Him, until He calls me up to pa­ra­dise;
The times may have their nos­trums, but I count them all but dross;
I’ve traveled back to Cal­v’ry, and I’m tent­ing by the Cross.

Refrain