Appalachian Hymns: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder

Sung by Melvin & Opal Osborne circa 1969

Melvin and Opal Osborne were from Matawan, West Virginia, but living in Norwalk, Ohio at the time of this recording. This audio is a clip of an answering machine message they left for their daughter Lola who was living in Detroit, Michigan.

When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder

Lyrics

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.

Refrain:

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder,

When the roll is called up yonder,

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

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. [Refrain]

Let us labor for the Master

from the dawn till setting sun;

let us talk of all His wondrous love and care.

Then when all of life is over,

and our work on earth is done,

and the roll is called up yonder,

I’ll be there. [Refrain]

Source: Our Great Redeemer’s Praise #624

Author: James M. Black

James Milton Black USA 1856-1938 Born in South Hill, NY, Black was an American hymn composer, choir leader and Sunday school teacher. He worked, lived,and died in Williamsport, PA. An active member, he worked at the Pine Tree Methodist Episcopal Church there. He married Lucy Love Levan. He started his music career with John Howard of New York and Daniel B. Towner of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He edited a dozen gospel song books and wrote nearly 1500 songs. He also served on the commission for the 1905 Methodist Hymnal. John Perry https://hymnary.org/text/when_the_trumpet_of_the_lord_shall_black