“Steal Away to Jesus” (1872)

“Steal Away to Jesus” (1872)

Topic 2.9

“Steal Away to Jesus” as published in Jubilee Songs (1872)

Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus!
Steal away, steal away home, I hain’t got long to stay here.

My Lord calls me, He calls me by the thunder; 
      The trumpet sounds it in my soul,
I hain’t got long to stay here.
      Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus!
      Steal away, steal away home, I hain’t got long to stay here.

Green trees are bending, poor sinners stand trembling;
      The trumpet sounds it in my soul,
I haven’t got a long time to stay here.
      Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus!
      Steal away, steal away home, I hain’t got long to stay here.

My Lord calls me—He calls me by the lightning; 
      The trumpet sounds it in my soul;
I hain’t got long to stay here.
      Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus!
      Steal away, steal away home, I hain’t got long to stay here.

Tombstones are bursting—poor sinners stand trembling;
      The trumpet sounds it in my soul;
I hain’t got long to stay here.
      Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus!
      Steal away, steal away home, I hain’t got long to stay here.
 

Listen to a recording of “Steal Away” from 1902:

Audio source: Dinwiddie Colored Quartet, “Steal Away,” October 29, 1902. Included in the National Jukebox, Library of Congress, courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment.

Sheet music for the song "Steal Away."


Source: “Steal Away,” in Jubilee Songs: Complete. As Sung by the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University, Under the Auspices of the American Missionary Association. New York: Bigelow & Main, 1872 (University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries)