This series of Twice-told Tales of the Dark Corner, which has included numerous twice-sung ballads, has been ongoing since February 24, 2010, and will conclude by the end of this year with the 150th tale.

It has been a lengthy journey, and an especially satisfying one for me. I trust it has been a meaningful one for all of you, as readers.

The final ballad in the series, “Just a Little While to Stay Here,” is a spiritual one written and published in 1921 by Eugene M. Bartlett and owned for many years by Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing Company.

In recent years, since it is now in public domain, several different arrangements have been created and recorded by a number of artists. The best known, perhaps, is the arrangement used by Bill and Gloria Gaither in their 2006 and 2013 videos, one of which features Guy Penrod as soloist.

After a life well lived, sentiments expressed by the lyrics of “Just a Little While to Stay Here” are foremost in the minds of many. It is a fitting choice to close out this series of Twice-sung Dark Corner ballads.

Just a Little While to Stay Here

Soon this life will all be over

And our pilgrimage will  end;

Soon we’ll take our heav’nly journey,

Be at home again with friends;

Heaven’s gates are standing open

Waiting for our entrance there;

Some sweet day we’re going over,

All the beauties there to share.

CHORUS

Just a little while to stay here,

Just a little while to wait;

Just a little while to labor

In the path that’s always straight;

Just a little more of trouble

In this low and sinful state;

Then we’ll enter heaven’s portals,

Sweeping through the pearly gates.

Soon we’ll see the light of morning,

Then the new day will begin;

Soon we’ll hear the Father calling,

“Come, my children, enter in,”

Then we’ll hear a choir of angels

Singing out the vict’ry song;

All our troubles will be ended

And we’ll live with heaven’s throng.

Soon we’ll meet again our loved ones

And we’ll take them by the hand,

Soon we’ll press them to our bosom

Over in the promised land;

Then we’ll be at home forever,

Throughout all eternity,

What a blessed, blessed morning

That eternal morn will be!

Just a little while to stay here,

Just a little while to wait;

 Just a little while to labor

In the path that’s always straight;

Just a little more of trouble

In this low and sinful state;

Then we’ll enter heaven’s portals,

Sweeping through the pearly gates.