One of my favorite songs. "Then do we wonder why others prosper living so wicked year after year. ... Father along we'll understand why." https://t.co/a1I7FpCZ8L
— Stephanie Seneff (@stephanieseneff) February 13, 2022
Here are the lyrics.
Tempted and tried, we're oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all day long
While there are others living about us
Never molested though in the wrong
When death has come and taken our loved ones
It leaves our home so lonely and drear
Then do we wonder why others prosper
Living so wicked year after year
Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine
We'll understand it all, by and by
Faithful 'til death, said our loving Master
A few more days to labor and wait
Toils of the road will then seem as nothing
As we sweep through the beautiful gates.
Wikipedia states: "Farther Along" is an American Southern gospel song of disputed authorship. The song deals with a Christian's dismay at the apparent prosperity of the wicked, when contrasted with the suffering of the righteous. The repeated theme is that, "farther along" (in Heaven, perhaps), the truth will be revealed. There are several attributions for the authorship of this song. The oldest known print edition is in the 1911 hymnal Select Hymns for Christian Worship and General Gospel Service; its only attribution is "Arr. B. E. W.", referring to the hymnal editor Barney Elliott Warren. In 1937 the Stamps-Baxter Music Company included the song in their Starlit Crown collection and several subsequent collections. The Stamps-Baxter version was set to a new musical arrangement by Gospel composer and publisher J. R. Baxter, and was initially credited "As sung by the Burnette Sisters". W. B. Stephens, a Church of God preacher, heard the song on the radio and contacted Stamps-Baxter claiming to be the author of the song. After further correspondence, Stamps-Baxter credited Stephens as the song's author in subsequent publications. Most versions of the song published today use the Stamps-Baxter arrangement and also credit Stephens as the song's author. Notable covers: "Farther Along" has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including The Flying Burrito Brothers, who recorded the song on their 1970 album Burrito Deluxe, and The Byrds, who covered it as the title track of their 1971 album Farther Along. Ike Turner released a version titled "Father Alone" as a single from the Ike & Tina Turner album The Gospel According to Ike & Tina in 1974. His rendition was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance. The song has also been recorded by Hank Williams, Glen Campbell, Pete Seeger, Roy Acuff, Johnny Cash, Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, Mississippi John Hurt, Bill Anderson, Ellen McIlwaine, Smoking Popes, Josh Garrels, Brad Paisley and the Million Dollar Quartet among others. In 1987, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris recorded an arrangement by John Starling and Emmylou Harris for the album Trio. In 2009, Ronnie Milsap covered the song on his gospel album, Then Sings My Soul. In 2011, Josh Garrels re-arranged the song for his album Love & War & The Sea In Between.
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