The Golden Sheaf ‎#173

173. The Holy City

1 Earth build cities fall and perish,
Lost, forgotten in time's night,--
But the blessed holy city
Stands forever, pure and bright.
Here the year's fair morning vernal,
Yields to winter's deathsped blast;
O'er those vales and hills eternal,
Storm clouds never shadows cast!

Chorus:
When shall we enter thee--home of the holy
Shining in beauty and vibrant with song?
City of refuge for earthworn and lowly,
Ope thy pearl portals and welcome thy throng!

2 Here, the blossoms fall and wither,
Bloom, to perish in a day;
Everglades, along life's river,
Bloom--but never fade away!
Hopes which turned to sad despairing
Here, shall there again unfold.
Lo! there are no sorrow wearing
Faces, in those halls of gold! [Chorus]

3 Here, dark crime or sinful revel
Comes, when fades the blessed light--
There, no unclean thing, no evil
Enters, and there falls no night.
O! thou blessed mother city
Come! descend and take us in,
To thine arms of love and pity--
To those mansions free from sin! [Chorus]

4 Lo! a glory, unterrestrial,
Shall, all visions rapt, surpass,
'Mid its beams, walk forms celestial;
Harpers on the sea of glass--
Sundered friends--with rapture greeting--
Saints, with jeweled crowns alight--
Once bereft--O! dear, dear meeting,
In the many mansions bright! [Chorus]

5 Shall we meet, in courts of glory,
Those we loved, who fell asleep?
Sing with them redemption's story,
Never more to mourn and weep?
Yes, we'll meet, (O! blessed meeting,)
Those who left us sad and lone.
"Face to face," with rapture greeting,
"We shall know as we are known!" [Chorus]

Text Information

• First Line: Earth built cities fall and perish
• Title: The Holy City
• Author: Susie Bradford Thompson
• Refrain First Line: When shall we enter--home of the holy
• Publication Date: 1902

Tune Information

• Name: [Earth build cities fall and perish]
• Composer: F. S. Stanton, Mus. Lic.
• Key: F Major