Everybody Will Be Happy Over There

There’s a happy land of promise over in the great beyond
Where the saved of earth shall soon the glory share
Where the souls of men shall enter and live on forever more
Everybody will be happy over there!

Chorus:
(Everybody will be happy, will be happy over there)
Everybody will be happy
Will be happy over there
(We will shout and sing His praises through the never-ending ages)
We will shout and sing His praise
Everybody will be happy over there!

There the ransomed of all ages will be singing ’round the throne
In that land where no one ever knows a care
And the Christians of all nations will join in the triumph song
Everybody will be happy over there

We’ll meet the one who saved us and who kept us by His grace
And who brought us to that land so bright and fair!
We will praise His name forever as we look upon His face
Everybody will be happy over there!

Written in 1921 by E.M. Barlett, this particular song is found on page 180 of the Red-back Hymnal.  Mr. Barlett is one of the two most famous gospel song writers from the state of Arkansas.  Mr. Bartlett and Albert Brumley are famous for their toe-tapping, convention singing style music, and this song definitely falls into that category.  You may recall other songs written by Mr. Barlett including “Just a little while to stay here” (1921), “Campin’ in Canaan Land” (1937) and probably his most famous song “Victory in Jesus” (1939) – many of which have been featured in the “Hymn of the week” devotions.

If you want a blast from the past, I have attached a link to this song sung by The Cathedrals from the 1970’s.

There is an interesting story about Mr. Barlett in his later years of life.  In 1939, he suffered a stroke and was partially paralyzed.  Because of this paralysis, he was no longer able to perform or travel.  Although hindered physically, he wrote his most famous song – Victory in Jesus – after his stroke.  I find it interesting that early in his career many of his songs were about going to a better place – Heaven.  I don’t think this was necessarily a negative commentary on living in Arkansas, but more about his earnest desire to go to Heaven, to be with Jesus.  But even after a tragedy in his own life (suffering a stroke), he was still able to sing about the victory that he found in Christ and still write about going to that special place (I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory).  He could sing about Jesus seeking him and buying him with his redeeming blood even though the paralysis had taken away part of his ministry.  I am encouraged by this story today and by the words of Mr. Bartlett, and I hope you are too.

Couple of comments on the lyrics:

• “Everybody will be happy over there” – This particular lyric has some powerful truth in it.

• “Everybody” – All those who call on the name of Christ, whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life are included in this everybody.  The eternal reward of Heaven is for the “everybodies” that have accepted Christ’s free gift of salvation.  The reward of the Christians in the early church is the same as those of us who have been saved in the last days.

• “Happy over there” – The real truth, I think, in this line is the fact that we will only be truly happy over there.  In this earthly life, we will have sadness, discouragement, sorrow, and loss.  We will bear grief and pain.  But praise the Lord, we will all be happy over there.  No tears.  No fears.  No death.  No sin.  True happiness with Jesus forever.

• “Christians of all nations” – Although Jesus was clear in his conversation with the women at the well that salvation is of the Jews (John 4), I am glad today that salvation wasn’t just for the Jews.  No, the Gospel is for the Jew and the Greek, the slave and the free, the American, the Chinese, and the Iranian.  The Bible tells us in Revelation 7 that there was a great multitude wearing white robes – from every nation, tribe, people and language.  You can’t get any more inclusive than that.  Christians will gather from all nations and they will be praising God saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”

In the 1980’s there was a famous pop song entitled “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”  If you know the song, you are probably whistling it in your head as you read this.  Bobby McFerrin wrote this song, and it was the first a capella song to reach #1.  Although the words and the music are catchy, this song isn’t full of spiritual truth.  In my mind, it minimizes the fact that there is real tragedy in this world that causes sadness and pain.  Avoiding worrying doesn’t automatically bring happiness.  There are many stories about wealthy individuals who had no financial cares in this world.  They, however, had no personal relationship with Christ, and therefore their money could not buy happiness, even if it could allow them to lead a worry-free life.

Unlike Bobby McFerrin, I think Mr. Bartlett had it right.  Everybody (in Christ) will be (may not be now but will be) happy (true peace and contentment) over there (eternally in Heaven).  I hope today, no matter your circumstances, that you can sing about a place where you will find happiness – a place called Heaven.  Jesus said “In my Father’s house are many mansions;  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.”  If Jesus can create a beautiful earth and the universe with all the planets and stars with His words, can you imagine what kind of place He is preparing for His children?  That thought ought to make you happy today.