Words & Music: bio James M. Black, 1893 (MIDI, score). Black, a Methodist Sunday school teacher in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was calling roll one day for a youth meeting. Young Bessie, daughter of a drunkard, did not show up, and he was disappointed at her failure to appear. Black made a comment to the effect, “Well, I trust when the roll is called up yonder, she’ll be there.” He tried to respond with an appropriate song, but could not find one in his song book:
This lack of a fitting song caused me both sorrow and disappointment. An inner voice seemed to say, “Why don’t you write one?” I put away the thought. As I opened the gate on my way home, the same thought came again so strongly that tears filled my eyes. I entered the house and sat down at the piano. The words came to me effortlessly…The tune came the same way—I dared not change a single note or word.
This song was sung in the 1941 Academy award winning movie “Sergeant York.”
When the Roll is Called up Yonder
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
hatchcreek.com Bible blog 
Dear Bonnie,
I have been so much blessed by this old time hymn whose message are so up-todate. I have coppied it to a friend and its so good.
I hope to meet the Lord one of these days.
It has given me confort as I have a terminal illness. I have not many days. Now I am booking a ticket to go and preach in Burundi. As I was looking for comforting words to give those supporting me I came across your blog and this hymn. Bonnie thank you and I have been blessed. I now count your blog as mine as well. And I will foward it to friends as well.
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I love this old hymn too.
The reason I know that I’ll be there is because somewhere along the line I realized that I am a sinner and didn’t deserve anything. I thought that when people died they automatically went to a place called Heaven. But, that was not true, we do not automatically go there. It is only if we choose to make Jesus Chist the Lord and Master of our lives and receive him into our hearts as Lord and Savior.
I’m so thankful that our wonderful God has made a way for me. He sent Jesus to die on the cross for me to pay the price of my sin. He not only died there, but he rose again the third day. Death could not hold him. He then rose to Heaven where he is now sitting at the right hand of God.
Yes, some day when the “roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.” And, I hope to see you all too!
Thank you Donna for your comment, and even though we know each other via the internet, in Heaven we will get to see each other in person. Praise the Lord!
Blessings,
Bonnie
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This song means so much to me because I remember it in childhood. My mother would take us to the Baptist churches back in the country and they would sing these old time hymns. The words make me feel comforted. I think this hymn speaks of the end times “when the dead in Christ shall rise” and “the role is called up yonder, I’ll be there. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord will be there when that Role is called up Yonder!
Love,
Donna
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