Christ My Song - 1552
I journey forth rejoicing - The Long Goodnight
(Leonhard Sturm/Jane Laurie Borthwick/
Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
The Long Goodnight.
"Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ;
which is far better." (Philippians 1,23)
1. I journey forth rejoicing,
from this dark vale of tears,
to heavenly joy and freedom,
from earthly bonds and fears:
where Christ our Lord shall gather
all his redeemed again,
his kingdom to inherit, –
goodnight, till then! PDF - Midi
2. Go to thy quiet resting
poor tenement of clay!
From all thy pain and weakness
I gladly haste away;
but still in faith confiding
to find thee yet again,
all glorious and immortal,
goodnight, till then!
3. Why thus so sadly weeping,
beloved ones of my heart?
The Lord is good and gracious,
though now he bids us part.
Oft have we met in gladness,
and we shall meet again,
all sorrow left behind us, –
goodnight, till then!
4. I go to see his glory,
whom we have loved below;
I go, the blessed angels,
the holy saints to know.
Our lovely ones departed,
I go to find again,
and wait for you to join us, –
goodnight, till then!
5. I hear the Saviour calling,
the joyful hour has come,
the angel-guards are ready
to guide me to our home;
where Christ our Lord shall gather
all his redeemed again,
his kingdom to inherit, –
goodnight, till then!
H.L.L., alias Jane Laurie Borthwick, Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1862, 89-91.
Translated from the German Ich fahr dahin mit Freuden of Leonhard Sturm.