We'll Understand It Better By and By

Representative Text

1 We are often tossed and driv’n
on the restless sea of time,
somber skies and howling tempest
oft succeed a bright sunshine;
in that land of perfect day,
when the mists have rolled away,
we will understand it better by and by.

Refrain:
By and by, when the morning comes,
when the saints of God are gathered home,
we’ll tell the story,
how we’ve overcome,
for we’ll understand it better by and by.

2 We are often destitute
of the things that life demands,
want of food and want of shelter,
thirsty hills and barren lands;
we are trusting in the Lord,
and according to the Word,
we will understand it better by and by. [Refrain]

3 Temptations, hidden snares,
often take us unawares,
and our hearts are made to bleed for
any thoughtless word or deed;
and we wonder why the test
when we try to do our best,
but we’ll understand it better by and by. [Refrain]

Source: Voices Together #311

Author: Charles Albert Tindley

Charles Albert Tindley was born in Berlin, Maryland, July 7, 1851; son of Charles and Hester Tindley. His father was a slave, and his mother was free. Hester died when he was very young; he was taken in my his mother’s sister Caroline Miller Robbins in order to keep his freedom. It seems that he was expected to work to help the family. In his Book of Sermons (1932), he speaks of being “hired out” as a young boy, “wherever father could place me.” He married Daisy Henry when he was seventeen. Together they had eight children, some of whom would later assist him with the publication of his hymns. Tindley was largely self-taught throughout his lifetime. He learned to read mostly on his own. After he and Daisy moved to Philadelphia… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: We are often tossed and driven on the restless sea of time
Title: We'll Understand It Better By and By
Author: Charles Albert Tindley (1905)
Meter: Irregular with refrain
Language: English
Refrain First Line: By and by, when the morning comes
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

You have access to this FlexScore.
Download:
Are parts of this score outside of your desired range? Try transposing this FlexScore.
General Settings
Stanza Selection
Voice Selection
Text size:
Music size:
Transpose (Half Steps):
Capo:
Contacting server...
Contacting server...
Questions? Check out the FAQ

A separate copy of this score must be purchased for each choir member. If this score will be projected or included in a bulletin, usage must be reported to a licensing agent (e.g. CCLI, OneLicense, etc).

This is a preview of your FlexScore.
The Cyber Hymnal #7223
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
The United Methodist Hymnal #525
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF)

Instances

Instances (1 - 20 of 20)
Text

African American Heritage Hymnal #418

TextPage Scan

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #394

Text

Beams of Heaven #18

Text

Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #574

TextPage Scan

Lift Every Voice and Sing II #207

New Songs of Inspiration (vol. one) #193

TextPage Scan

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism #491

Page Scan

Rejoice Hymns #619

TextPage Scan

Songs of Zion #55

TextPage Scan

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #636

The Christian Life Hymnal #569

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #7223

TextPage Scan

The New Century Hymnal #444

TextPage Scan

The New National Baptist Hymnal (21st Century Edition) #288

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

The United Methodist Hymnal #525

TextPage Scan

This Far By Faith #206

Text

Total Praise #417

TextPage Scan

Voices Together #311

TextPage Scan

Yes, Lord! #135

Text

Zion still Sings #168

Include 73 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us