Lyrics
There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
In the Sweet By and By expresses Christian hope through the image of a beautiful shore and a dwelling prepared by the Father. Its verses look beyond present sorrow toward fellowship, rest, and praise. The recurring chorus turns that expectation into a simple communal confession: separation and grief are not presented as final, because a future meeting awaits the faithful.
The hymn balances future hope with present gratitude. It anticipates songs among the blessed and the end of sighing, then answers the gift of divine love with tribute and praise. John 14:2-3 is a close parallel to the Father preparing a dwelling and Christ gathering his people to himself. Revelation 21:4 also supports the vision of sorrow and sighing brought to an end. In this Southern Gospel rendition, those familiar biblical themes remain central, giving the song the character of both a hymn of comfort and a declaration of confidence in eternal life.
Related Scripture
- John 14:2-3 Jesus speaks of preparing a place and gathering his people to be with him.
- Revelation 21:4 The vision promises an end to death, mourning, crying, and pain.