James Milton Black – When the Roll is Called Up Yonder

Hymnist James Milton Black was a singing school teacher and edited several gospel songbooks, including:

• Songs of the Soul (1894)
• Songs of the Soul, Number Two (1896)
• When the Saints are Marching In (1896)

He also wrote his own hymns, including:

• When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder (1893)
• Come, Oh, Come to Me (1902)
• We Shall Reign with Him in Glory (published 1935)

The first song listed, When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder, is his most popular hymn and the subject of this review.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

When the last trumpet sounds and Christ returns, we the saints who follow Jesus, whose names are recorded in the book of life, will rise from our graves and meet God in His heavenly kingdom.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All of it agrees with the Bible.

This song is public domain.

[Verse 1]

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,

References the final of seven trumpets that act as the forerunner for the fall of earthly nations, Christ’s reign on earth, and eventual resurrection of the saints (1 Corinthians 15:52 and Revelation 11:15-18).

And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;

That is, in God’s Heavenly kingdom, the “morning sun” comes and never sets, signifying the light of God that illuminates, with no night or sign of any shadow (Revelation 22:5).  This is so because there is no darkness in God (1 John 1:5).

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,

The trumpet mentioned in line 1 precedes the gathering of the elect (Matthew 24:29-31).

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Americans might recall grade school, where a teacher did a “roll call” during the first day of class.  Students whose names were not written on the roll were in the wrong class.  In the same way, the “roll” is the book of life, which contains the names of all the saints.  Those whose names are not written within this roll are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:12-14).  Black declares that his name is contained in that book.

[Refrain]

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.

Essentially repeats Verse 1, line 4.

[Verse 2]

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, 

Black takes poetic license regarding the weather condition during the final resurrection.  Though the resurrection itself is scriptural (Luke 20:34-38, Acts 24:15-16, Romans 6:1-5, Romans 8:11-13, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 1 Corinthians 15:50-56, 2 Corinthians 4:13-14, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), the weather Black mentions is not supported by Scripture, but ultimately inconsequential and does not contradict the Bible.  Thus, I will not penalize him for it.

And the glory of His resurrection share;

We will receive new, glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:35-58) and share in the inheritance promised to us as saints (Matthew 25:34, Acts 20:32, Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:29, Titus 3:7, James 2:5, and 1 Peter 1:4).

When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,

That is, in heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:17, Revelation 21:1-5, and Revelation 22:1-5).

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Repeats Verse 1, line 4.

[Verse 3]

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,

Indeed, for God has prepared the work for us to accomplish (Ephesians 2:10).

Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;

Not with words, but with works and truth (1 John 3:18).

Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,

That is, when we die and accomplish our mission (Matthew 25:21-23).

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Repeats Verse 1, line 4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Considering that this song was written over 100 years ago, some of the language of Smith’s day does not carry over well into our 21st-century mindsets. For example, how do we expect those outside Christianity to comprehend “the roll is called up yonder”? I had a hard time finding the answer on Google until I found a 1975 Truth Magazine publication that explains it.

Still, there are other portions (e.g., “time shall be no more”, “His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies”, “when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,”, etc.) that ease difficulty in explanation. It is about the end of the world according to Christianity.

Score: 7/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God through its vivid description of the second coming of Christ and the saints’ final resurrection.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

James Milton Black’s When the Roll is Called Up Yonder is a good hymn.  It describes in grand, poetic detail some of the events surrounding Christ’s second coming and our eventual return from the dead, united with God in His eternal kingdom.  This glorifies God.  Unbelievers will struggle with some of its statements.

It is a great testimonial song, but not worship.  It speaks more about “me” than about God.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: When the Roll is Called Up Yonder (listen Johnny Cash’s version of the song)

Artist: James Milton Black

Album: N/A

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: 1893

Duration: N/A

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

03/24/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.  I increased section 1’s score, raising the overall score, from 9/10 to 9.5/10.