Hymn
Higher Ground
I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining ev'ry day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith on heaven's tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho' some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim is higher ground.
I want to live above the world,
Tho' Satan's darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I'll pray till heav'n I've found,
"Lord, lead me on to higher ground."
Higher Ground — Text from Christ in Song, 1908. Public domain. https://yeshuanow.com/hymns/higher-ground
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Questions about this hymn
Who wrote Higher Ground?
The words of Higher Ground were written by Johnson Oatman, Jr.; the version here was published in 1908. The library also holds Count Your Blessings, another hymn by Johnson Oatman, Jr.
Is Higher Ground public domain?
Yes. The words here are taken from Christ in Song, published in 1908. Works published before 1931 are out of copyright in the United States, so you can print, project, perform and record this hymn freely. How we source and check every hymn.
What is the metre of Higher Ground?
Higher Ground is in Long Metre (8.8.8.8) with refrain. Hymns in the same metre can usually be sung to the same tunes — for example, Bring Them In, More About Jesus and Sweet Peace, the Gift of God's Love.