The Cyber Hymnal ‎#1708

1708. God Be with You Till We Meet Again

1. God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

2. God be with you till we meet again;
Neath His wings protecting hide you;
Daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]

3. God be with you till we meet again;
With the oil of joy anoint you;
Sacred ministries appoint you;
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]

4. God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you;
Put His arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]

5. God be with you till we meet again;
Of His promises remind you;
For life’s upper garner bind you;
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]

6. God be with you till we meet again;
Sicknesses and sorrows taking,
Never leaving or forsaking;
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]

7. God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Strike death’s threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]

8. God be with you till we meet again;
Ended when for you earth’s story,
Israel’s chariot sweep to glory;
God be with you till we meet again. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: God be with you till we meet again
• Title: God Be with You Till We Meet Again
• Author: Jeremiah E. Rankin (1880)
• Refrain First Line: Till we meet, till we meet
• Meter: 98.89
• Language: English
• Source: Gospel Bells, compiled by Rankin, J. W. Bischoff & Otis Presbrey (Chicago, Illinois: The Western Sunday School Publishing Company, 1880)
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Written...as a Christian good-bye, it was called forth by no person or occasion, but was deliberately composed as a Christian hymn on the basis of the etymology of good-bye, which is God be with you. The first stanza was written and sent to two composers--one of unusual note, the other wholly unknown and not thoroughly educated in music. I selected the composition of the latter, submitted it to J. W. Bischoff--the musical director of a little book we were preparing--who approved of it, but made some criticisms, which were adopted. It was sung for the first time one evening in the First Congregational Church in Washington, of which I was then the pastor and Mr. Bischoff the organist. I attributed its popularity in no little part to the music to which it was set. It was a wedding of words and music, at which it was my function to preside; but Mr. Tomer should have his full share of the family honor. Sankey, p. 144. Alternate tune: RANDOLPH, Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906

Tune Information

• Name: GOD BE WITH YOU
• Composer: William Gould Tomer
• Meter: 98.89
• Incipit: 33333 35236 66666
• Key: C Major
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: At the time, Tomer was music director at the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.