1 We are often tossed and driv’n on the restless sea of time; Somber skies and howling tempests oft succeed a bright sunshine; In that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away, We will understand it better by and by. Refrain: By and by, when the morning comes, All the saints of G-d are gathered home, We will tell the story how we’ve overcome, We will understand it better by and by.
2 We are often destitute of the things that life demands; Want of food and want of shelter, thirsty hills and barren lands; We are trusting in the Lord, and according to his Word, We will understand it better by and by. [Refrain]
3 Trials dark on ev’ry hand and we cannot understand All the ways that G-d would lead us to that blessed Promised Land, But he guides us with his eye, and we’ll follow till we die, For we’ll understand it better by and by. [Refrain]
4 Temptations, hidden snares often take us unaware, And our hearts are made to bleed for a tho’tless word or deed, And we wonder why the test when we try to do our best, But we’ll understand it better by and by. [Refrain]