O Come, Angel Band

 

1 

My latest sun is sinking fast,

my race is nearly run;

my strongest trials now are past,

my triumph is begun.

Refrain:

O come, angel band,

come and around me stand;

O bear me away on your snowy wings

to my immortal home.

O bear me away on your snowy wings

to my immortal home.

2 

I know I’m near the holy ranks

of friends and kindred dear;

I hear the waves on Jordan’s banks,

the crossing must be near. [Refrain]

3 

I’ve almost reached my heav’nly home,

my spirit loudly sings;

your holy ones, behold, they come!

I hear the noise of wings. [Refrain]

4 

O bear my longing heart to him

who bled and died for me;

whose love now covers all my sin,

and gives me victory. [Refrain]

 

Author: Jefferson Hascall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JcJsXCB74w

Performed by The Chuck Wagon Gang.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_M65lcDk6o

This version is performed by Ralph Stanley -- "the king of mountain music".   And if you haven't seen the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? ... you should. Watch it for the music, if not the story. (It's a re-imagining of Homer's The Odyssey, produced by the Cohen brothers.)