Lyr Req: This Is Just What Heaven Means to Me

Subject: Sothern Gospel
From:
Date: 28 Sep 98 - 06:16 PM

I am desperately seeking the lyrics to an old hymn called "What Heaven Means To Me" or "This is just what Heaven Means to me" or "This is what Heaven Means to me" Can someone please help - It would mean a lot to me!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: This Is Just What Heaven Means to Me
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 04:45 PM

WorldCat.org finds that some libraries hold sheet music for the following songs:

THAT'S WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME
Words by Jack Yellen, music by Harry Akst
New York: Jack Yellen, Inc., ©1932.

[First line of verse?] What is heaven? Where is heaven
[First line of chorus?] Going home at night to a cottage white

* * *

THIS IS WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME
By Rusty Goodman and Vestal Goodman
Madisonville, Ky.: Journey Music Co., ©1969.

First line of text: A country where no twilight shadows deepen.
First line of chorus: What will it be when we get over yonder.

* * *

THIS IS JUST WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME in the collection "Great Gospel Songs of Jimmie Davis" (Milwaukee, WI : H. Leonard Corp., [2001]); also in "Gospel Songs: Piano, Vocal, Guitar" (Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard, [2008])

Subject: Lyr Add: THIS IS JUST WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 01:52 PM

There are lots of recordings of this song on Spotify. I couldn't identify any one version that seemed authoritative. Jimmy Swaggart made one of the earliest recordings in 1972, but I doubt that he wrote it. So I included some alternative words, indicated by brackets, in my transcript:


[THIS IS [JUST]] WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME

1. A country where no twilight shadows deepen
Unending day where night will [shall] never be
A city where no storm clouds [storms will] ever gather
[Oh/For] This is just what heaven means to me

CHORUS: What will it [joy 'twill] be when we get over yonder
And [To] join the throng around [upon] the glassy [crystal] sea
We'll [To] meet [join] our loved ones and crown Christ forever
[Oh,] This is just what heaven means to me

2. A place where there is no misunderstanding
And from all enmity and strife we're free
No unkind words to [that] wound the heart are spoken
[Oh/And] This is just what heaven means to me

3. [And] when [then] at last we [I] see the face of Jesus
Before whose image other loves all flee [cease]
And when they crown him Lord of All [King of Kings] I'll be there [forever]
[For/Oh,] This is just what heaven means to me


[I find it interesting to contemplate other people's ideas of heaven. What have they got against twilight and night, I wonder? Sure, night is when the creepy-crawlies come out, but couldn't you just ban the creepy-crawlies? And why must the sea be glassy? No gospel singers want to try surfing, I suppose.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: This Is Just What Heaven Means to Me
From: GUEST,999
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 02:38 PM

Words and music are attributed to Jimmie Davis: found at


Jimmie Davis - This Is Just What Heaven Means To Me Sheet Music ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: This Is Just What Heaven Means to Me
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 13 - 01:41 PM

I need the sheet music to this song. for a very dear friend's funeral on Tuesday sept 24 2013. could I download this from the internet. please let me know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: This Is Just What Heaven Means to Me
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 13 - 04:15 PM

http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0082661

All I can find given short notice.

Subject: Lyr Add: THAT'S WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME (Yellen...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 08:17 AM

This is the non-gospel, slightly jazzy song;


THAT'S WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME
Words by Jack Yellen, music by Harry Akst, ©1932.
As sung by Ruth Etting

[§] Going home at night
To a cottage white
Sheltered by a shady tree,
Speaking of a place called heaven—
That's what heaven means to me.

Always finding there
Those who really care,
Faces that I love to see,
Round the fireside at seven—
That's what heaven means to me. [§§]

"What is heaven? Where is heaven?"
Did I hear you say?
I know heaven; I'm in heaven
At the close of day.

[Repeat § to §§]

Then the radio
Croons a tune about the moon in silvery streams,
Till it's time to go
Up the stairs where someone shares your cradle of dreams.

And then a little tot
By a little cot
Whispering on bended knee:
"Bless my mama and my daddy"—
That's what heaven means to me.