Music: J.P. Webster, 1867 (1819-1875)

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.

Refrain

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 blest,

And our spirits shall sorrow no more

Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

Refrain

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.

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.

Refrain

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.

    The composer of the tune of this hymn, Joseph Philbrick Webster, was a very sensitive musician, subject to fits of depression and melancholoy. One day in 1867 Webster visited his friend, a medical practitioner named Sanford Fillmore Bennett, who had a hobby of writing verse. Realizing that Webster was in one of his moods of dejection, Bennett asked what was the matter. "Oh, nothing," was the gloomy reply. "It will be all right by and by."

     The answer immediately started a train of thought in Bennett's mind as he considered the spiritual implications of the remark. "The sweet by and by," he said. "Wouldn't that make a good hymn?" He sat down at his table and within half an hour had produced these three stanzas and a refrain. He handed the words to Webster, who brightened up at once, caught the inspiration of the moment, and quickly composed a melody for the words. He played it on his violin and then added the harmony. In less than thirty minutes this hymn was produced!

Meanwhile, two townsmen had come into Bennett's office. They joined with Webster and Bennett in singing the new hymn. It is said that within two weeks children on the streets were singing it, and it has remained a favorite ever since.