No. 58 All Is Well, Osh 122
Hexatonic (6th missing, cannot be classified but obviously ionian) (I II III IV V — VII)
What’s this that steals, that steals upon my frame?
Is it death, is it death?
That soon will quench, will quench this mortal flame?
Is it death, is it death?
If this be death I soon shall be
From every pain and sorrow free.
I shall the King of glory see,
All is well, all is well.
Weep not, my friends, weep not for me,
All is well, all is well!
My sins forgiv’n, forgiv’n, and I am free,
All is well, all is well!
There’s not a cloud that doth arise,
To hide my Jesus from my eyes.
I soon shall mount the upper skies,
All is well, all is well!
Tune, tune your harps, your harps ye saints on high,
All is well, all is well!
I too will strike my harp with equal joy,
All is well, all is well!
Bright angels are from glory come,
They’re round my bed, they’re in my room,
They wait to waft my spirit home,
All is well, all is well.
As to sources we quote the 1911 editor of the Original Sacred Harp. After attributing tune and words to J. T. White, nephew of B. F. White, compiler of the 1844 Sacred Harp, the editor states: “The tune had been published before it was printed in the [1844] Sacred Harp.” A negro version of the song was recently recorded in Texas and appears in the Publications of the Texas Folk-Lore Society, vii., 109.