When my final farewell to the world I have said,
[originally, When mysterious whispers are floating about]
And glad­ly lie down to my rest;
When soft­ly the watch­ers shall say, He is dead,
And fold my pale hands o’er my breast;
And when, with my glo­ri­fied vi­sion at last
The walls of That Ci­ty I see,
Will any one then at the beau­ti­ful gate,
Be wait­ing and watch­ing for me?
Will any one then at the beau­ti­ful gate,
Be wait­ing and watch­ing for me?

Refrain

Be wait­ing and watch­ing,
Be wait­ing and watch­ing for me?
Be wait­ing and watch­ing,
Be wait­ing and watch­ing for me?

There are lit­tle ones glanc­ing about in my path,
In want of a friend and a guide;
There are dear lit­tle eyes look­ing up into mine,
Whose tears might be ea­si­ly dried.
But Jesus may beck­on the child­ren away
In the midst of their grief and their glee?
Will any of them, at the beau­ti­ful gate,
Be wait­ing and watch­ing for me?
Will any of them, at the beau­ti­ful gate,
Be wait­ing and watch­ing for me?

Refrain

There are old and forsaken who linger awhile
In homes which their dearest have left;
And a few gentle words or an action of love
May cheer their sad spirits bereft.
But the Reaper is near to the long standing corn,
The weary will soon be set free?
Will any of them, at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me?
Will any of them, at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me?

Refrain

Oh, should I be brought there by the bountiful grace
Of Him who delights to forgive,
Though I bless not the weary about in my path,
Pray only for self while I live,
Methinks I should mourn o’er my sinful neglect,
If sorrow in Heaven can be,
Should no one I love, at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me!
Should no one I love, at the beautiful gate,
Be waiting and watching for me!

Refrain