James Milton Black: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder

James Milton Black

“When the Roll is Called Up Yonder” as printed in The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918).

James Milton Black: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1918 · historical text
Public domainSoldier songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,

And the morning breaks eternal bright and fair;

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,

And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

Chorus

When the roll . . . is called up yon . . . der,

When the roll . . . is called up yon . . . der,

When the roll . . . is called up yon . . . der,

When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

Verse 2

On that bright and cloudless morning, when the dead in Christ shall rise,

And the glory of His resurrection share;

When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,

And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there

Verse 3

Let me labour for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,

Let me talk of all His wondrous love and care;

Then, when all of life is over, and my work on earth is done,

And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.

Credits

Written by James Milton Black

Words by James Milton Black. Historical text published in The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Canadian Soldiers' Song Book (1918), “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder”

The 1918 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; other entries are held.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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