Indexes for The Sacred Harp, 2025 Edition
275b Roll On
Words: Isaac Watts, 1707
Music: Cynthia Bass, 1850. Alto Anna Blackshear, 1902
Meter: Long Meter (8,8,8,8)
Why should we start and fear to die?
What tim’rous worms we mortals are!
Death is the gate of endless joy,
And yet we dread to enter there.
[chorus]
Roll on, roll on, sweet moments roll on,
And let the poor pilgrim go home, go home.
Oh, if my Lord would come and meet,
My soul should stretch her wings in haste,
Fly fearless through death’s iron gate,
Nor feel the terrors as she passed.
What tim’rous worms we mortals are!
Death is the gate of endless joy,
And yet we dread to enter there.
[chorus]
Roll on, roll on, sweet moments roll on,
And let the poor pilgrim go home, go home.
Oh, if my Lord would come and meet,
My soul should stretch her wings in haste,
Fly fearless through death’s iron gate,
Nor feel the terrors as she passed.