I Hope I'll See You In Heaven
'This is a song of lost love or friendship or the separation which death brings to mortal relationships. Larry has never really revealed his personal meanings for the song, if it was written from a personal experience. It serves as a look at life from childhood to old age and the regret we often feel for words unspoken and love ungiven'. Written in 1973
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Version 1 is a live recording, performed solo with acoustic guitar
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Version 2 is a full studio recording
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Down Under [All versions except Royal Music LP]
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Version 3 is a live recording, performed solo with acoustic guitar
Note that on Footprints In The Sand and The Best Of Larry Norman, the crowd noise at the end is faded out, unlike on Stop This Flight. Also the echo sound just prior to the start is removed |
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Version 4 is a live recording, performed solo with acoustic guitar
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Version 5 is a live recording, performed solo with acoustic guitar
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Version 6 is a live recording, performed solo with acoustic guitar during a concert in Northern Ireland
Note that on Rough Diamonds, the guitar notes after the applause at the end dies down are removed. Also, the track split at the start means the introductory words spoken over guitar are on the preceding track |
lyrics version 1
When you first begin your journey
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
And the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay free was my intention
To stay young and unconfined [Starts playing guitar here]
And so I held my pride above you
Oh yes, what a fool was I
Holding back those words I love you
And letting out that word goodbye
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you've gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I was foolish in my younger days
To think they'd never end
Life confused me with its changing ways
And I could not comprehend
All the meaning in those moments
Now lost like footprints in the sand
And I'm standing here remembering
But it's so hard to understand
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, how could I know about the love
That we both should have given
And now you’re gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
Mmmm hmm hmm hmm
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my days
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
And I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is his neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the skies
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, I just did not know about the love
That we both should have, could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday baby
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't, I hope I'll see ya in heaven
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
And the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay free was my intention
To stay young and unconfined [Starts playing guitar here]
And so I held my pride above you
Oh yes, what a fool was I
Holding back those words I love you
And letting out that word goodbye
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you've gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I was foolish in my younger days
To think they'd never end
Life confused me with its changing ways
And I could not comprehend
All the meaning in those moments
Now lost like footprints in the sand
And I'm standing here remembering
But it's so hard to understand
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, how could I know about the love
That we both should have given
And now you’re gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
Mmmm hmm hmm hmm
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my days
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
And I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is his neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the skies
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, I just did not know about the love
That we both should have, could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday baby
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't, I hope I'll see ya in heaven
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
lyrics version 2
When you first begin your journey
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
Well the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay young was my intention
To stay free and unconfined
So I held my pride above you
Oh yes, what a fool was I
Holding back the words I love you
And letting out the word goodbye
Well I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I was foolish in my younger days
To think they'd never end
But life confused me with its changing ways
And I could not comprehend
All the magic of those moments (Ooh)
Now lost like footprints in the sand (Ooh)
While I'm sitting here remembering (Ooh)
But it's so hard to understand (Ooh)
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you’re gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my day
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is its neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the skies
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I could not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
Well the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay young was my intention
To stay free and unconfined
So I held my pride above you
Oh yes, what a fool was I
Holding back the words I love you
And letting out the word goodbye
Well I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I was foolish in my younger days
To think they'd never end
But life confused me with its changing ways
And I could not comprehend
All the magic of those moments (Ooh)
Now lost like footprints in the sand (Ooh)
While I'm sitting here remembering (Ooh)
But it's so hard to understand (Ooh)
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you’re gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my day
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is its neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the skies
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I could not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
lyrics version 3
When you first begin your journey
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
And the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay free was my intention
To stay young and unconfined
And so I held my pride above you
Oh yes what a fool was I
Holding back those words God loves you
And letting out that word goodbye
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know
About the love that we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I was foolish in my younger days
To think they'd never end
Life confused me with its changing ways
And I could not comprehend
All the meaning in those moments
Now lost like footprints in the sand
And I'm standing here remembering
But it's so hard to understand
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know
About the love that we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my days
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
And I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is his neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the skies
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, how could I know
About the love that we both could have, should have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
Well if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
And the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay free was my intention
To stay young and unconfined
And so I held my pride above you
Oh yes what a fool was I
Holding back those words God loves you
And letting out that word goodbye
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know
About the love that we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I was foolish in my younger days
To think they'd never end
Life confused me with its changing ways
And I could not comprehend
All the meaning in those moments
Now lost like footprints in the sand
And I'm standing here remembering
But it's so hard to understand
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know
About the love that we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my days
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
And I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is his neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the skies
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, how could I know
About the love that we both could have, should have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
Well if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
lyrics version 4
When you first begin your journey
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
And the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay free was my intention
To stay young and unconfined
And so I held my pride above you
Oh yes what a fool was I
Holding back those words I love you
And letting out that word goodbye
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't I hope I'll see you in heaven
Mmmmm mmm-m-mmm
I was foolish in my younger days
To think they'd never end
Life confused me with its changing ways
And I could not comprehend
All the meaning in those moments
Now lost like footprints in the sand
And I'm standing here remembering
But it's so hard to understand
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you’re gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't I hope I'll see you in heaven
Oh oh ah ah ah
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my days
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
And I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is its neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the sky
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, how could I know about the love
That we both could have, should have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't I hope I'll see you in heaven
Well if I don't I hope I'll see you in heaven
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
And the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay free was my intention
To stay young and unconfined
And so I held my pride above you
Oh yes what a fool was I
Holding back those words I love you
And letting out that word goodbye
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't I hope I'll see you in heaven
Mmmmm mmm-m-mmm
I was foolish in my younger days
To think they'd never end
Life confused me with its changing ways
And I could not comprehend
All the meaning in those moments
Now lost like footprints in the sand
And I'm standing here remembering
But it's so hard to understand
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you’re gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't I hope I'll see you in heaven
Oh oh ah ah ah
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my days
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
And I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is its neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the sky
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, how could I know about the love
That we both could have, should have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't I hope I'll see you in heaven
Well if I don't I hope I'll see you in heaven
lyrics version 5
When you first begin your journey
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
And the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay free was my intention
To stay young and unconfined
And so I held my pride above you
Oh yes, what a fool was I
Holding back those words God loves you
And letting out that word goodbye
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
Ah ah ha
Ah ha ha
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my day
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
An' I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is its neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the skies
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have, should have given
And now you’re gone, you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
Well if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
And the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay free was my intention
To stay young and unconfined
And so I held my pride above you
Oh yes, what a fool was I
Holding back those words God loves you
And letting out that word goodbye
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
Ah ah ha
Ah ha ha
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my day
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
An' I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is its neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the skies
And I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have, should have given
And now you’re gone, you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
Well if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
lyrics version 6
[Starts playing guitar] Hold onto everyone you can with love [Spoken]
When you first begin your journey
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
Well the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay young was my intention
To stay free and unconfined
And so I held my pride above you
Oh yes, what a fool was I
Holding back those words I love you
And letting out that word goodbye
Well I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I was foolish in my younger days
To think they'd never end
Life confused me with its changing ways
And I could not comprehend
All the meaning in those moments
Now lost like footprints in the sand
And I'm sitting here remembering
But it's so hard to understand
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, how could I know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you’re gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
Aah ah ah ah
Aah ah ah-ah-ah
Ah ah ah ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ah la la
[Track split]
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my days
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
And I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is its neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the sky
Well I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, how could I know about the love
That we both should have, could have given
But now you're gone, you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
When you first begin your journey
You're not sure of who you are
And the lessons that you're learning
They don't seem to take you far
And you just can't keep from stumbling
Though you try so hard to stand
Well the truth can be so humbling
When it's just beyond your hand
As though youth were my invention
As though love lay undefined
To stay young was my intention
To stay free and unconfined
And so I held my pride above you
Oh yes, what a fool was I
Holding back those words I love you
And letting out that word goodbye
Well I was wrong to let you go
I was a child and I did not know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
I was foolish in my younger days
To think they'd never end
Life confused me with its changing ways
And I could not comprehend
All the meaning in those moments
Now lost like footprints in the sand
And I'm sitting here remembering
But it's so hard to understand
I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, how could I know about the love
That we both could have given
And now you’re gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
Aah ah ah ah
Aah ah ah-ah-ah
Ah ah ah ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ah la la
[Track split]
I've been sitting in this garden
In the middle of my days
And my memories fade and harden
As the years they slip away
And I've been looking in this mirror
At the age around my eyes
Time is such an earnest labourer
Precision is its neighbour
Lay my body in the ground
But let my spirit touch the sky
Well I was wrong to let you go
I was a child, how could I know about the love
That we both should have, could have given
But now you're gone, you're gone so far away
I hope I'll see you again someday
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
If I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven
But if I don't, I hope I'll see you in heaven