STORIES BEHIND GREAT HYMNS

WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

Story:

James M. Black was a Sunday school teacher and president of the young people’s society in a church in Canada, when he was quite young himself.

One evening at a consecration meeting, when each member answered the roll call by repeating a Scripture text, a girl failed to respond. This situation brought the thought to Black’s mind—although the thought was not theologically sound—that it would be a very sad thing if our names were called from the Lamb’s Book of Life in heaven and we should be absent.

When Black reached his house, his wife saw that he was deeply troubled and questioned him about his problem, but he did not reply. In fifteen minutes a new song came to his mind. He then went to the piano and played the music just as you will find it in the hymnbooks today—note for note. It has never been changed.

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more,
When the morning breaks; eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Bible Verses

Revelation 20:12 - I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.