I am wait­ing, calm­ly wait­ing,
While on Heav­en me­di­tat­ing,
And the years so slow­ly ag­ing,
In the drea­ry wastes of life;
I see man­sions past the riv­er,
Where the sun­beams ev­er quiv­er
On the strand where mor­tals nev­er
Mingle more in hate or strife.

Refrain

I am wait­ing, calm­ly wait­ing,
For my home be­yond the skies.
I am wait­ing, calm­ly wait­ing,
I am wait­ing for the prize.

I have heard the mys­tic voic­es,
Rising high ab­ove the nois­es,
Made by those whose blind­ed sens­es
Prate of higher life be­low;
I have learned to know how hol­low
Are the sub­stanc­es they fol­low;
I am sick of all their fol­ly,
And am waiting now to go.

Refrain

Life is but a field of bat­tle,
Spite of all the sense­less prat­tle,
Of its use­ful­ness and glo­ry,
Where the best are al­ways slain;
Where the brav­est are no win­ners,
And the nob­lest on­ly sin­ners,
Where the in­cense that we of­fer
Rises con­stant­ly in vain.

Refrain

I am sick of wrongs in­flict­ed,
Where de­fense is in­ter­dict­ed,
While I sit with lips un­op­ened,
As my foes around me rave;
I would close my eyes for­ev­er,
I would all life’s link­ings sev­er,
For I know there’s truth and jus­tice
For us all be­yond the grave.

Refrain