Description

Till We Meet Again

Inspiration to write the words of a song can come in many ways. For one text, the simple meaning of a frequently used word in the English language became the catalyst for a beloved hymn.

Jeremiah Rankin was a pastor at the First Congregational Church and president of Howard University in Washington, D.C. In 1882, he was looking for a song which he could use at the end of his Sunday evening choir meetings – something that would be a good benediction to sing as the members left for the night. None of the hymns seemed quite right, so Dr. Rankin decided to write his own song. He looked up the origin of the term good-bye and saw that its meaning was God Be with You. With that thought in mind, he wrote eight verses of a hymn which he titled “God Be with You Till We Meet Again.” He sent the lyrics to William Tomer, a public-school music teacher in New Jersey and music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, who composed just the right melody. Jeremiah Rankin said, “It was written as a Christian good-bye.” This closing song for his choir to sing as they parted has been published in over 1,000 hymnals today!

It is fitting that this song has become one of the signature pieces of a group President Ronald Reagan referred to as “America’s Choir.” The world-famous Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square was founded in 1847. Composer John Williams said of the choir, “These are people who are there for the joy of music. It’s not a job with them; It’s a mission.” The choir began weekly Sunday morning broadcasts of Music and the Spoken Word in 1929. The tradition of closing each choir broadcast with “God Be with You Till We Meet Again” is a long one. However, the retirement of the choir’s eleventh conductor, Richard P. Condie, unwittingly started a new tradition of the music conductor singing, rather than leading, this song. On his last broadcast before retiring, wanting to avoid fanfare or attention, Condie simply gave the choir the downbeat of the song, put down his baton, and walked out of the Tabernacle. Since that day, the conductor has put down his baton and faced the audience, joining with the choir in singing, “God Be with You Till We Meet Again.”

God be with you till we meet again;
By his counsels guide, uphold you;
With his sheep securely fold you.
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet,
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

This hymn often has a personal connection to many Christians as they bid farewell to those who mean so much to them. Musician and composer Jason Tonioli wrote:

“This song has a direct connection to my tear ducts. After serving for several months in a city in Argentina as a missionary, I was at the bus station ready to leave. A large group of friends and fellow church members had gathered to tell me good-bye and emotions were high. As it came time to load the bus, these wonderful people began singing “God Be with You Till We Meet Again.” My eyes filled with tears as I slowly climbed the stairs of the bus and looked back at my friends for one last time.

The most personal time for me to play this song was at my own father’s funeral. I am grateful for the knowledge that we will meet again and be with the Savior.”

The song which Jeremiah Rankin wrote as a simple good-bye to be sung on parting by friends has exceeded any expectation which he ever had. He was very pleased when it became the official closing song by the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor. Were he here today and could see the impact of his song over more than a century, I think he would echo to us what he said to the young people, “Long, long may they sing it.”

Sources:
https://hymnary.org/text/god_be_with_you_till_we_meet_again
https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/former-choir-conductor-walked-out-of-tabernacle.html?cid=facebook-shared
https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/god-be-with-you-till-we-meet-again.html
http://plymouthbrethren.org/article/10394