WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER
"I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books
were opened." Revelation 20:12
(If you have speakers, but don't hear music, click here.)
Words & Music: James Milton Black, 1893. Black, a Methodist Sunday
school teacher in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was calling roll one day
for a youth meeting. One girl that Black had invited was not there, and
he was disappointed at her failure to appear. Black made a comment to
the effect, "Well, I trust when the roll is called up yonder, she'll be
there." He tried to to respond with an appropriate song, but could not
find one in his song book:
Refrain
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I'll be there.
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
Refrain
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
Refrain
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
Refrain