Lyr Req: Face to Face That I Shall Know Him

Subject: RE: Face to Face That I Shall Know Him
From: CarlZen
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 02:25 PM

Nathan - On the recording Joseph Spence only plays and sort of grunts and groans. (It sounds strange in print, but I can't recommend this CD enough.)

Because of that, the only way I'll find out if it is the same song is to attempt to sing the lyrics to the guitar accompanimant.

Being Bahaman, the hymn may be the origin, and the good old folk process may have taken over, also.

Thanks

Subject: Lyr Add: FACE TO FACE (Carrie E. Breck, 1898)
From: Nathan
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 09:34 AM

I'm not familiar with Joseph Spence, but is this the hymn you're referring to? It was written by Carrie E. Breck in 1898.

Face to Face

Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ Who died for me?

Refrain

Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!

Only faintly now I see Him,
With the darkened veil between,
But a blessed day is coming,
When His glory shall be seen.

Refrain

What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain;
When the crooked ways are straightened,
And the dark things shall be plain.

Refrain

Face to face—oh, blissful moment!
Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ Who loves me so.

Refrain

Subject: Face to Face That I Shall Know Him
From: CarlZen
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 03:18 PM

I have learned Joseph Spence's "Face to Face That I Shall Know Him" from his "Complete Folkways Recordings 1958". I had a lot of help from tablature.

Does anyone know of any words that go to the song? The liner notes say that it was similar in style to a lot of the hymns found in the shape note hymnals.

Joseph's own grunts are a little too much for me to decipher. (Although you can't help but love them.)