Gone To Rest

The following song, Gone To Rest, is posted and sung by Myra Dalton in memory of her sister. The words and music were written by Thomas Willard Loftin in memory of his sister, Lenora, who died November 17, 1900 at age 24.

Gone To Rest appears to have been first published in 1909 in The Sacred Harp, Fifth Edition, by J. L. White. Loftin wrote several songs that appear in White’s book, as well as others that appear in The Sacred Harp, revised by W. M. Cooper. Loftin worked at one time or another with both of these book editors. He also has a song in Union Harp and History of Songs, compiled by J. S. James.

This is a beautiful memorial tribute to a sister. I hope it might bless someone.

Here are the three stanzas and chorus, which is sung after each stanza:

1. Our loving one has gone to rest

In heaven now she’s ever blest

In heaven now she waiting stands

To welcome us to that blest land.

2. She called each one around her bed,

And thus in dying words she said:

My days on earth are at an end

My soul is summonsed to attend.

3. I can no longer stay with you,

I now must cross o’er Jordan’s shore

The Saviour calls and I must go,

Farewell, farewell, to all below.

Chorus:

O glorious thought, we’ll meet again,

And with the angels we will sing:

Yes, we will sing.

The YouTube recording is HERE.  The singing starts about 30 seconds in, when the song page comes up.