This hymn was originally titled Coming By and By by Robert Lowry, in Brightest and Best, 1875. Meter is 76. 86. D. The words and music were revised in 1919 by Charles Albert Tindley.
1. A better day is coming,
A morning promised long,
When girded right, with holy might
Will overthrow the wrong;
When God the Lord will listen
To every plaintive sigh,
And stretch His hand o'er every land
In justice by and by.
Refrain
Coming by and by,
Coming by and by!
The better day is coming,
The morning draweth nigh,
Coming by and by,
Coming by and by!
The welcome dawn will hasten on,
‘Tis coming by and by.
2. The boast of haughty error
No more shall fill the air,
But age and youth will love the truth,
And spread it everywhere;
No more from want and sorrow
Will come the hopeless cry;
And strife will cease, and perfect peace
Will flourish by and by.
3. O! for that holy dawning
We watch and wait and pray;
Till o’er the height the morning light
Shall drive the gloom away;
And when the heavenly glory
Shall flood the earth and sky,
We’ll bless the Lord for all His word,
And praise Him by and by.
– Lowry 1875
1. A better day is coming,
The morning draweth nigh,
When girded right, with holy might
Shall overthrow the wrong;
When Christ our Lord will listen
To every plaintive sigh,
And stretch His hand o'er every land
In justice by and by.
Refrain
‘Tis coming by and by,
‘Tis coming by and by,
A better day is coming,
The morning draweth nigh,
‘Tis coming by and by,
‘Tis coming by and by,
The welcome dawn will hasten on,
‘Tis coming by and by.
2. The boast of haughty error
No more shall fill the land,
While men enraged, their powers engaged
To kill their fellow man;
But God the Lord shall triumph,
And Satan’s host shall fly,
For wrong must cease, and righteousness
Shall conquer by and by.
3. No more will angry nations
In deadly conflict meet,
While children cry and parents die
In conquest or defeat;
For Jesus Christ the captain
Will give the battle cry,
The Holy Ghost will lead the host
To victory by and by.
4. No more shall lords and rulers
Their hapless victims press,
And bar the door against the poor
And leave them in distress;
But God, the King of glory,
Who hears the ravens cry,
Will give command that every man
Have plenty by and by.
English text