When I Reach That City
Porter Wagoner · Grand Old Gospel (w Blackwood Bros) (RCA Victor) [1965]
(R.E. Winsett - Johnson Oatman)
On the top of Mount Zion is a city
And the earth with its glory it doth fill
And I look upon its beauty in the morning
When I reach that city on the hill.
Oh, that city on Mount Zion
Though a pilgrim yet I love Thee still
I'll not leave Thee through the ages
When I reach that city on the hill.
So I'll stay here until my Saviour calls me
Tryin' daily to perform his will
Then he'll say Come to me, well done up yonder
When I reach that city on the hill.
Oh, that city on Mount Zion
Though a pilgrim yet I love Thee still
I'll not leave Thee through the ages
When I reach that city on the hill.
--- Instrumental ---
On the top of Mount Zion is God's city
And my friends and my loved ones will be there
Where we'll all live forever in thatcity
When I reach that city on the hill.
Oh, that city on Mount Zion
Though a pilgrim yet I love Thee still
I'll not leave Thee through the ages
When I reach that city on the hill.
When I reach that city on the hill...
On the top of Mount Zion is a city
And the earth with its glory it doth fill
And I look upon its beauty in the morning
When I reach that city on the hill.
Oh, that city on Mount Zion
Though a pilgrim yet I love Thee still
I'll not leave Thee through the ages
When I reach that city on the hill.
So I'll stay here until my Saviour calls me
Tryin' daily to perform his will
Then he'll say Come to me, well done up yonder
When I reach that city on the hill.
Oh, that city on Mount Zion
Though a pilgrim yet I love Thee still
I'll not leave Thee through the ages
When I reach that city on the hill.
--- Instrumental ---
On the top of Mount Zion is God's city
And my friends and my loved ones will be there
Where we'll all live forever in thatcity
When I reach that city on the hill.
Oh, that city on Mount Zion
Though a pilgrim yet I love Thee still
I'll not leave Thee through the ages
When I reach that city on the hill.
When I reach that city on the hill...
When I Reach That City
Porter Wagoner's 'When I Reach That City' stands as a defining track of 1960s country gospel, recorded with the Blackwood Brothers on RCA Victor. The song captures the spiritual longing and anticipation of a journey toward salvation, blending Wagoner's signature vocal delivery with the emotive storytelling characteristic of the era. Released on the album 'Grand Old Gospel,' the recording exemplifies the genre's fusion of traditional hymnody and country music themes prevalent during the mid-1960s. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to express deep personal faith through a relatable narrative, cementing Wagoner's legacy as a master of the genre.