1 A light came out of darkness;
No light, no hope had we,
Till Jesus came from Heaven
Our light and hope to be.
Oh, as I read the story
From birth to dying cry,
A longing fills my bosom
To meet him by and by.

Refrain:
Shall you, shall I, meet Jesus by and by?
And when we reach the Glory land,
We’ll swell the song of the angel band.
Shall you, shall I, meet Jesus by and by?

2 How tender his compassion,
How loving was his call,
How earnest his entreaty
To sinners, one and all.
He wooed and won them to him
By love, and that is why
I long to be like Jesus,
And meet him by and by.

3 Yet deeper do I ponder,
His cross and sorrow see,
And ever gaze and wonder
Why Jesus died for me.
And shall I fear to own him?
Can I my Lord deny?
No! let me love him, serve him,
And meet him by and by.