1 If you reach the gates before me
To the land of endless day,
To that home that is forever bright and fair,
When my father and my mother
Ask you if I’m on the way,
You may tell my dear old parents I’ll be there.
Refrain:
You may tell them I’ll be there,
That the Lord has heard
And answered every prayer;
Yes, be sure to give this message
When they meet you at the gate;
You may tell my dear old parents I’ll be there.
2 Thro’ my mind there steals a picture
Of a fireside warm and bright,
I can see my mother in her old armchair;
I can hear my father praying
That I might be led aright,
And reach home at last in answer to his prayer. [Refrain]
3 Then my home was almost heaven,
Tho’ but humble at its best,
But to me it was most beautiful and fair;
O what will it be in Heaven,
In those mansions of the blest,
When with father and with mother I’ll be there. [Refrain]
4 Then no matter what the journey,
Tho’ the way be dark or bright,
I will push ahead with hope, and not despair;
For I soon will join my loved ones
In that land of love and light,
Then be sure to tell my parents I’ll be there. [Refrain]
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #12631
Johnson Oatman, Jr., son of Johnson and Rachel Ann Oatman, was born near Medford, N. J., April 21, 1856. His father was an excellent singer, and it always delighted the son to sit by his side and hear him sing the songs of the church.
Outside of the usual time spent in the public schools, Mr. Oatman received his education at Herbert's Academy, Princetown, N. J., and the New Jersey Collegiate Institute, Bordentown, N. J. At the age of nineteen he joined the M.E. Church, and a few years later he was granted a license to preach the Gospel, and still later he was regularly ordained by Bishop Merrill. However, Mr. Oatman only serves as a local preacher.
For many years he was engaged with his father in the mercantile business at Lumberton… Go to person page >
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