1 By and by the path shall brighten,
And its outlines rise to view;
As the moving mists shall lighten,
And distill the ev’ning dew;
When the gems of gold shall glisten
In the cloud supported sky;
While the soul shall look and listen,
By and by.

By and by,
By and by,
Then the soul shall look and listen,
By and by, yes, by and by;
By and by,
By and by,
Then the soul shall look and listen,
By and by.

2 By and by a fringe of beauty
Shall appear beyond the line,
Where the upward path of duty,
Meets and melts in love divine;
There the Lord shall rise in glory,
Thro’ the star-depths drawing nigh,
Crowning thus redemption’s story,
By and by.

By and by,
By and by,
Crowning thus redemption’s story,
By and by, yes, by and by;
By and by,
By and by,
Crowning thus redemption’s story,
By and by.

3 By and by shall come the ringing
Of the music from the throne,
As the seraphs in their singing,
Chant the marvels they have known;
And the azure heights shall thunder,
With the chorals of the sky,
Till the soul shall wait and wonder,
By and by.

By and by,
By and by,
Till the soul shall wait and wonder,
By and by, yes, by and by;
By and by,
By and by,
Till the soul shall wait and wonder,
By and by.

4 By and by the city golden,
Shall in broad perspective stand;
All its massive bulk upholden,
In the hollow of God’s hand!
Then the templed heights shall glisten,
Near the throne exalted high;
While the soul shall look and listen,
By and by.

By and by,
By and by,
While the soul shall look and listen,
By and by, yes, by and by;
By and by,
By and by,
While the soul shall look and listen,
By and by.