The Healing Journey

June 11, 2025

“In the Sweet By and By” is a traditional hymn from the 19th century about the promise of the next life, which borrows from the words of Jesus. It has been recorded by everyone from Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton to Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Louie Armstrong and Elvis Presley. And it is often played as a dirge during New Orleans jazz funerals. The hymn’s lyrics were by S. Fillmore Bennett and music by Joseph P. Webster.

Its appeal is the hope it inspires with the refrain, “In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore.” It speaks of a fair land, where God has prepared a place for each of us, referencing Jesus’ words from John 14:1-3: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am, you also may be.”

The words came to Bennett almost immediately, and when he passed them to Webster, “His eyes kindled, and stepping to the desk, he began writing the notes. Taking his violin, he played the melody and then jotted down the notes of the chorus. It was not over thirty minutes from the time I took my pen to write the words, before two friends with Webster and myself were singing the hymn.”

Hear Kenny Rogers sing “In the Sweet By and By” https://youtu.be/lb-TL5BRlDE

In the Sweet By and By

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 spirit 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;
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.

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.

Songwriters: Bennett and Webster
Lyrics © Ray And Bernice Charles Trust, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group

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