Lyrics
Verse 1
Sometimes I will sit and wonder
What you look like
I heard your hair is white as wool
And eyes are like fire
Heaven knows what I'll do
Chorus
When I hear your voice
Will it thunder the sky?
Will it be a whisper
Like a breeze in the night?
I'm gonna be there soon
Only Heaven knows what I'll do
When I see you
Verse 2
When we're face to face
Staring in the eyes of Yahweh
This world and its pain
A million miles away
Will I dance, will I sing?
Will I bow before the King?
Only Heaven knows what I'll do
When I see you
Verse 3
While I'm here on earth
I want to chase the divine
This place can be so dark
I need a glimpse of your light
I'm gonna be there soon
And only Heaven knows what I'll do
When I see you
Chorus
When we're face to face
Staring in the eyes of Yahweh
This world and its pain
A million miles away
Will I dance, will I sing?
Will I bow before the King?
Only Heaven knows what I'll do
When I see you
Bridge
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
I'm gonna be there soon
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Only Heaven knows what I'll do
When I see you
Outro
We're face to face
Staring in your eyes
This world and its pain
A million miles away
Will I dance, will I sing?
Will I bow before the King?
Only Heaven knows what I'll do
Only Heaven knows what I'll do
When I see you
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"when I see you" by Josiah Queen imagines the moment of standing face to face with God in Heaven. The verses wonder aloud what God looks like and sounds like, drawing on scriptural imagery of hair "white as wool" and eyes "like fire" from the book of Revelation's description of Christ. This wondering sets up the song's central question of how the singer will respond in that moment.
The chorus and later verses repeat variations of "only Heaven knows what I'll do when I see you," listing possible reactions such as dancing, singing, or bowing before God as King. This uncertainty is treated not as doubt but as anticipation, since the singer also describes wanting to chase after the divine while still living on earth, needing a glimpse of God's light in a dark world.
The song closes by returning to this face-to-face imagery, again asking whether the singer will dance, sing, or bow. Read together, the lyrics present a country gospel meditation on hope for an eternal encounter with God, balancing present longing with anticipation of a future reunion.
Related Scripture
- Revelation 1:14 This verse describes Christ's hair as white like wool and eyes like blazing fire, matching the song's opening description.
- 1 Corinthians 13:12 This verse contrasts seeing dimly now with seeing face to face later, echoing the song's anticipation of meeting God directly.