The Cyber Hymnal ‎#8027

8027. What Is Life?

1 What is life? ’tis but a vapor;
Soon it vanishes away;
Life is but a dying taper;
O my soul! why wish to stay!
Why not spread thy wings, and fly
Straight to yonder world of joy?

2 See that glory—how resplendent!
Brighter far than fancy paints;
There, in majesty transcendent,
Jesus reigns—the King of saints:
Spread thy wings, my soul! and fly
Straight to yonder world of joy.

3 Joyful crowds, His throne surrounding,
Sing with rapture of His love;
Through the heavens His praises sounding,
Filling all the courts above:
Spread thy wings, my soul! and fly
Straight to yonder world of joy.

4 Go, and share His people’s glory,
Mid the ransomed crowd appear;
Thine a joyful, wondrous story,
One that angels love to hear:
Spread thy wings, my soul! and fly
Straight to yonder world of joy

Text Information

• First Line: What is life? ’tis but a vapor
• Title: What Is Life?
• Author: Thomas Kelly
• Meter: HM
• Language: English
• Source: Hymns of Various Passages of Scripture, third ed. (Dublin, 1809)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: GRAND CANYON
• Composer: William Batchelder Bradbury, 1816-1868
• Meter: HM
• Key: G Major
• Copyright: Public Domain