Adventist Pioneer Library

Worship — Closing Hymns

When shall we meet again

  • No. 270
  • Metre 6s & 5s.
  • Tune UNITY.
  • Words Alaric A. Watts.
  • Music Lowell Mason.
  • Key E-flat major
  • Singing key E♭ major
  • Time 2/4
  • 4 stanzas
1

When shall we meet again,
Meet ne'er to sever?
When will peace wreathe her chain
Round us forever?
Our hearts will ne'er repose,
Safe from each blast that blows,
In this dark vale of woes,
Never,—no, never!

2

When shall love freely flow
Pure as life's river?
When shall sweet friendship glow,
Changeless forever?
Where joys celestial thrill,
There bliss each heart shall fill,
And fears of parting chill
Never,—no, never!

3

Then to that world of light
Take us, dear Saviour;
May we all there unite,
Blessed forever;
Where kindred spirits dwell,
There may our music swell,
And time our joys dispel
Never,—no, never!

4

Soon shall we meet again,
Meet ne'er to sever;
Soon shall peace wreath her chain
Round us forever;
Our hearts will then repose,
Secure from worldly woes;
Our songs of praise shall close
Never,—no, never!

About this hymn

As printed As printed: running head «WORSHIP—CLOSING HYMNS.»; hymn number «270» (large), tune name «UNITY. 6s & 5s.» centred over the music (condensed capitals and small capitals), «LOWELL MASON.» at the right (capitals and small capitals). Stanza 1 is interlinear, between the staves, one line per system, with «1.» before «When»; under the staves «a - gain», «sev - er», «for - ev - er», «re - pose» are hyphenated with spaces, «nev-er» with a tight hyphen, and «Never,» is printed as one unbroken word under two notes. Stanzas 2–3 are printed as text in the left column below the music; stanza 4 runs from the foot of the left column (lines 1–4) to the top of the right column (lines 5–8), followed by «Alaric A. Watts.» in italics. No reference line of tune numbers is printed for this hymn. The print sets a thin space before «?», «;» and «!» («river ?», «Saviour ;», «never !»); it is closed up here. The printer's curly apostrophe is written straight («life's», «ne'er»). Stanza 1 has «wreathe her chain», stanza 4 «wreath her chain» — both as printed. Lines 2, 4 and 8 of each stanza are indented in the print. Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's.

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
Worship — Closing Hymns · No. 270 · printed page 89
Checked
score verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-10-01
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Original key · E-flat major
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Score of When shall we meet again
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Score
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