Just Over in the Gloryland

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 1895

🎵 “Just Over in the Gloryland” – Hymn History

“Just Over in the Gloryland” is a beloved gospel hymn written in 1895 by James W. Acuff, an American hymn writer and evangelist from Tennessee.

✍️ Author Background

  • Full name: James Washington Acuff

  • Born: 1855, Tennessee

  • Died: 1929

  • He was a prominent figure in Southern gospel music during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

  • Acuff worked with music publishers and contributed many songs to gospel hymnals used in revival meetings and church gatherings.

📖 About the Hymn

  • Written: 1895

  • Theme: Hope of heaven, Christian victory, eternal joy

  • The song expresses confident anticipation of heaven (“the gloryland”) and the believer’s victory through faith in Christ.

  • It became especially popular in revival services and shaped-note singing traditions in the American South.

🎶 Musical Style

  • Upbeat, marching rhythm

  • Designed for congregational singing

  • Frequently performed by Southern gospel quartets

🌎 Legacy

“Just Over in the Gloryland” has remained a standard in:

  • Baptist and Pentecostal hymnals

  • Gospel quartet repertoires

  • Bluegrass and traditional gospel recordings

Its enduring popularity comes from its joyful tone and strong message of assurance and hope.

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