The Nearer, the Sweeter

The near­er I reach the end of life

The sweet­er is home to me;

I long for the frag­rant flow’rs that grow

On the banks of the crys­tal sea.

Home

home

heav­en­ly home

Fair are my dreams of thee;

The near­er I reach the end of time

The sweet­er thou art to me.

The near­er the fad­ing of the leaf

The bright­er the col­ors grow;

I sigh

when the even­ing sha­dows fall

For the light of the morn­ing glow.

The near­er I reach the banks of bloom

The fair­er the breez­es blow;

The nearer I reach the Fount of Love

Then the sweet­er the wa­ters flow.

The near­er I reach the morn­ing land

The fair­er the gold­en light;

My eyes in the ga­ther­ing mists grow dim

Then the clear­er im­mor­tal sight.