Words: Florence Catherine Armstrong, 1862; the words were published (without her permission) in the British Herald, February 1865, and quickly became popular. Armstrong acknowledged her authorship in The King in His Beauty and Other Poems, 1875.
Music: George Coles Stebbins
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Oh to be over yonder,
In that bright land of wonder,
Where the angel voices mingle, and
The angel harps do ring!
To be free from care and sorrow,
And the anxious dread tomorrow,
To rest in light and sunshine in
The presence of the King!
Refrain
Oh to be over yonder!
In that land of wonder,
There to be forever
In the presence of the King!
Oh to be over yonder!
My longing heart grows fonder
Of looking to the far off east,
To see the daystar bring
Some tidings of th'awaking-
Of the cloudless, pure day breaking,
My heart is yearning-yearning for
The coming of the King!
Refrain
Oh to be over yonder!
Alas! I sigh and ponder-
Why clings this poor, weak heart of mine
To any earthly thing?
For each earthly tie must sever,
And pass away forever:
There's no more separation in
The presence of the King!
Refrain
O when shall I be dwelling
Where angel voices, swelling
In triumphant hallelujahs, make
The vaulted heavens ring-
Where the pearly gates are gleaming,
And the Morning Star is beaming?
O when shall I be yonder in
The presence of the King?
Refrain
Oh, when shall I be yonder?
The longing groweth stronger
To join in all the praises the
Redeemèd ones do sing.
Within those heavenly places,
Where the angels veil their faces,
In awe and adoration, in
The presence of the King!
Refrain
Hymns supplied through the gracious generosity of the Cyber Hymnal Website