We'll Understand It Better By and By
Words and music: Charles Albert Tindley, 1905 · Public domain
Free: the 1-5-6-4 in all 12 keys, on one large-print sheet. Get it free →
Verse 1
We are Foften tossed and driv'n on the Gmrest-Bbless sea of Ftime;
FSomber skies and howling tempests Gm7oft suc-G7ceed a bright sun-C7shine;
FIn that land of perfect day, F7when the Gmmists Bbhave rolled a-Fway,
We will understand it C7bet-Fter C7by and Fby.
Refrain (after every verse)
FBy Bband Fby, Gmwhen Bbthe morning Fcomes,
FWhen Bbthe Fsaints of G7God are gathered C7home,
FWe'll tell the Bbsto-Fry Gmhow Bbwe've over-Fcome;
For we'll understand it C7bet-Fter C7by and Fby.
Verse 2
We are Foften destitute of the Gmthings Bbthat life de-Fmands,
Fwant of food and want of shelter, Gm7thirsty G7hills and barren C7lands;
Fwe are trusting in the Lord, F7and ac-Gmcord-Bbing to His Fword,
we will understand it C7bet-Fter C7by and Fby.
Verse 3
Trials Fdark on ev'ry hand, and we Gmcan-Bbnot under-Fstand
Fall the ways that God would lead us Gm7to that G7blessed Promised C7Land;
Fbut He guides us with His eye, F7and we'll Gmfol-Bblow till we Fdie,
for we'll understand it C7bet-Fter C7by and Fby.
Verse 4
Temp-Ftations, hidden snares often Gmtake Bbus una-Fwares,
Fand our hearts are made to bleed Gm7for a G7thoughtless word or C7deed;
Fand we wonder why the test F7when we Gmtry Bbto do our Fbest,
but we'll understand it C7bet-Fter C7by and Fby.
Chords in the key of F
- F
- Gm
- Bb
- Gm7
- G7
- C7
- F7
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Take it further
Hear how it goes
Hear We'll Understand It Better By and By on piano with these chords, then the Sunday Version with the gospel moves we play in church.
Listen →This hymn in three keys, and 49 more
The 50 Hymns for the Church Pianist collection has this hymn in three keys with every verse, a Sunday Version with gospel moves, and big keyboard pictures. Large print and regular print.
See the collection →Why these chords work
Gospel Piano Chords by Ear is the book behind these charts — how to hear the I, IV and V, and how to move between them without reading music.
About the book →Learn it with Henry
Online lessons, by ear, from the author of the book — a camera on the keys and this hymn ready for Sunday.
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