Scripture Verse

The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. John 19:35

Introduction

Words: D. B. Wat­kins, in The Great Awak­en­ing, by Sam­uel P. Jones (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: John Church, 1886).

Music: Ed­win O. Ex­cell (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Wat­kins’ full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Edwin O. Excell (1851–1921)

Lyrics

There’s a won­der­ful sto­ry
I’ve heard long ago,
’Tis called the sweet sto­ry of old;
I hear it so oft­en, wher­ev­er I go,
That same old sto­ry was told;
And I’ve thought it was strange
That so oft­en they’d tell
That sto­ry as if it were new;
But I’ve found out the rea­son
They loved it so well,
That old, old sto­ry is true.
That old, old sto­ry is true,
That old, old sto­ry is true;
But I’ve found out the rea­son
They loved it so well,
That old, old sto­ry is true.

They told me of a be­ing so lovely and pure,
That came to the earth to dwell,
To seek for His lost ones,
And make them se­cure,
From death and the pow­er of hell;
That He was des­pised
And with thorns He was crowned,
On the cross was ex­tend­ed to view;
But oh, what sweet peace
In my heart since I’ve found
That old, old sto­ry is true.
That old, old sto­ry is true,
That old, old sto­ry is true;
But oh, what sweet peace
In my heart since I’ve found
That old, old sto­ry is true.

He arose and as­cend­ed
To Heav­en, we’re told,
Triumphant o’er death and hell;
He’s pre­par­ing a place
In that ci­ty of gold,
Where loved ones for­ev­er may dwell.
Where our kin­dred we’ll meet,
And we’ll nev­er more part,
And oh, while I tell it to you,
It is peace to my soul,
It is joy to my heart,
That old, old sto­ry is true.
That old, old sto­ry is true,
That old, old sto­ry is true;
It is peace to my soul,
It is joy to my heart,
That old, old sto­ry is true.

Oh, that won­der­ful sto­ry
I love to re­peat,
Of peace and good­will to men;
There’s no sto­ry to me
That is half so sweet,
As I hear it again and again.
He in­vites you to come—
He will free­ly receive,
And this mes­sage He send­eth to you,
There’s a man­sion in glo­ry
For all who be­lieve,

That old, old sto­ry is true.
That old, old sto­ry is true,
That old, old sto­ry is true;
There’s a man­sion in glo­ry
For all who be­lieve,

That old, old sto­ry is true.