Scripture Verse

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Introduction

portrait
James H. Fillmore, Sr.
1849–1936

Words: Jes­sie B. Pounds, cir­ca 1890 (verses 1–3; au­thor of verse 4 is un­known).

Music: James H. Fill­more, Sr. (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Jessie B. Pounds
1861–1921

Lyrics

We are going down the valley one by one,
With our faces tow’rd the setting of the sun;
Down the valley where the mournful cypress grows,
Where the stream of death in silence onward flows.

Refrain

We are going down the valley,
Going down the valley,
Going tow’rd the setting of the sun;
We are going down the valley,
Going down the valley,
Going down the valley one by one.

We are going down the valley one by one,
When the labors of the weary day are done;
One by one, the cares of earth forever past,
We shall stand upon the river brink at last.

Refrain

We are going down the valley one by one:
Human comrade you or I will there have none;
But a tender hand will guide us lest we fall:
Christ is going down the valley with us all.

Refrain

We are going down the valley one by one:
Yet before the shadowed vale may come the dawn,
When with rapture we shall gather in the sky;
We shall all be changed, but some shall never die!

Refrain