Scripture Verse

The twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. Revelation 21:21

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous, in First Truths; or, Les­sons and Hymns for Chris­tian Child­ren (Lon­don: So­cie­ty for Pro­mot­ing Chris­tian Know­ledge, 1843), num­ber 391, alt.

Music: Lin­coln­shire Her­bert H. Booth, in One Hun­dred Fa­vor­ite Songs of the Sal­va­tion Ar­my, ed­it­ed by Fred­er­ick Booth-Tuck­er (Sal­va­tion Ar­my, 1893) (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Herbert H. Booth (1862–1926)

Lyrics

I have giv’n up all for Je­sus—
This vain world is naught to me;
All its plea­sures are for­got­ten
In re­mem­ber­ing Cal­va­ry;
Though my friends des­pise, for­sake me,
And on me the world looks cold,
I’ve a friend that will stand by me
When the pear­ly gates un­fold!

Refrain

Yes, life’s morn will soon be wan­ing,
And its ev­en­ing bells will toll—
But my heart will know no sad­ness
When the pear­ly gates un­fold!

When the voice of Je­sus calls me,
And the an­gels whis­per low,
I will lean up­on my Sav­ior
Through the val­ley as I go;
I will claim His pre­cious pro­mise,
More to me than world of gold,
Fear no ev­il, I’ll be with thee,
When the pear­ly gates un­fold.

Refrain

Just beyond the verge of Jor­dan,
Just be­yond its chill­ing tide,
Blooms the tree of life im­mor­tal,
And the liv­ing wa­ters glide;
In that hap­py land of spi­rits
Flowers bloom on hills of gold,
And the an­gels are await­ing
Where the pear­ly gates un­fold.

Refrain