The Cyber Hymnal ‎#1079

1079. Cowboy's Carnival

1. I’ve been thinking today as my thoughts began to stray;
Your memory to me’s worth more than gold;
As you ride upon the plain midst the sunshine and the rain,
You’ll be rounded up within the Master’s fold.

Refrain
We’ll be rounded up in glory by and by;
We’ll be rounded up in glory by and by;
When the milling time is o’er,
And we stampede no more,
We’ll be rounded up in glory by and by.

2. May we lift our voices high till the glorious by and by,
And be known by all thro’ God’s own brand of love;
For His property we are, and He’ll know us from afar,
And will round us up in glory by and by. [Refrain]

3. As we look upon the plain to the cowboys who have fain
While the raging storm and lightning flashes by;
We will meet to part no more on that happy golden shore
When we’re rounded up in glory by and by. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: I've been thinking today as my thoughts began to stray
• Title: Cowboy's Carnival
• Author: C. W. Byron (1900)
• Arranger: John E. Thomas
• Refrain First Line: We'll be rounded up in glory by and by
• Language: English
• Source: New Hosannas, by Thomas et al. (Fort Worth, Texas: Quartet Music Company, 1906), number 84, with the notation Dedicated to the Cowboys of Texas
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Though this song is obviously not intended for a traditional worship service, its language is an apt analogy for the angels' prophesied gathering together of believers at the end of the age. The term round up refers to the process in which cattle or horses are collected for branding, shipping to market, etc. In a parallel to the seals on believers' foreheads (Revelation 7:3), animal brands are a permanent, indelible sign of ownership.

Tune Information

• Name: [I've been thinking today as my thoughts began to stray]
• Composer: Walter L. Rose
• Incipit: 34555 65312 21655
• Key: G Major
• Copyright: Public Domain