Only One Step More
by John Lair
"In my boyhood
I knew many old mountain people who led a pretty hard
life and, as they neared the end of it, looked forward
to that hour when they would take that one last step
from earth to heaven with the hope of better things to
come that helped them over the hard places. I tried to
write a song for them, in their own words expressing
their philosophy of life and what lay ahead at the end
of the long, long way. So far as I know this had never
been published in any form except in hymnbook
collections, some but now all of which were put out by
Stamps-Baxter. None of their versions are exactly like
the original which I was the first to get into print
—John Lair
Only One Step More
I have known a life of sorrow
I have borne a heavy load
And my weary feet have stumbled
On the rough and rocky road
Soon my burden will be lifted
Soon my trials will be o'er
Soon my journey will be ended
For it's only one step more.
Jesus told of many mansions
Over in that promised land
Soon I'll move from this low dwelling
To a house not built with hands
There I'll live next door to Jesus
And my friends gone on before
Soon I'll settle in that city
For it's only one step more.
Mother's long been over yonder
She'll be waiting for me, too
She'll be, O, so glad to see me
Proud to know that I've pulled through
She will be the first to greet me
When I enter heaven's door
O, I'll soon be with you Mother
For it's only one step more.
Years ago our little darling
Journeyed to that land of love
And the flower that dropped and faded
Blossoms now in heaven above
She'll be changed, buy, O, I'll know her
When I search the angels o'er
I am coming, baby, coming
And it's only one step more.
