Steal Away

Steal away, steal away
Steal away to Jesus
Steal away, steal away home
I ain't got long to stay here

I was walkin' in Savannah past a church, decayed and dim
When there slowly through the window came a plaintive funeral hymn
My sympathy awakened, my wonder quickly grew
Till I found myself environed in a little negro pew
Down in front a young couple sat in sorrow, nearly wild
On the altar was a coffin, in the coffin was a child
Rose a sad, old negro preacher at a little wooden desk
In a manner grandly awkward with a countenance grotesque
And he said "Now, don't be weepin' for this pretty bit of clay
For the little boy that lived there, he done gone and run away
He's doin' very finely and he appreciates your love
But his sure enough Father want him in that large house up above
He didn't give you that baby by a hundred thousand miles
He just think you need some sunshine and He lent it for a while
And He let ya love and keep it till your hearts were bigger grown
And these silver tears you're sheddin', they's just interest on the loan
So, my poor dejected mourners, let your hearts with Jesus rest
Don't go criticizin' the One that knows the best
He's give us many comforts, He has the right to take away
To the Lord, be praised in glory now and ever, let us pray"

My Lord, He calls me
He calls me by the thunder
The trumpet sounds within my soul
I ain't got long to stay here
I'm gonna steal away home