When the Roll ls Called Up Yonder

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1893

🎵 “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder” – History of the Hymn

“When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder” is a beloved Christian hymn written in 1893 by James Milton Black, a Methodist Sunday school teacher and gospel composer in the United States.

✍️ How It Was Written

According to tradition, James M. Black was taking attendance at his Sunday school class when he noticed a young girl was absent. The moment inspired him to reflect on the idea of a heavenly roll call — when believers’ names would be called in Heaven. That thought became the foundation for the hymn.

He wrote both the lyrics and music the same year.

📖 Biblical Inspiration

The hymn is based on imagery from the Book of Life mentioned in the Bible, especially in:

  • Book of Revelation (Revelation 20:12–15)

  • Book of Daniel (Daniel 12:1)

These passages speak of a heavenly record of those who belong to God.

🎶 Publication & Popularity

The song was first published in 1893 in a hymnal compiled by James M. Black. It quickly became popular in:

  • Revival meetings

  • Camp meetings

  • Evangelical churches

  • Gospel songbooks

Its upbeat tempo and hopeful message made it a favorite in American Protestant worship, especially in Methodist and Baptist traditions.

🎵 Famous Lyric (Chorus)

When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
I'll be there.

🌎 Lasting Legacy

Over the years, the hymn has been:

  • Included in numerous gospel and traditional hymnals

  • Recorded by various gospel artists

  • Sung widely in the United States and beyond

It remains one of the most recognizable 19th-century American gospel hymns.

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