Will the circle be unbroken

歌詞

There are loved ones in the glory

Whose dear forms you often miss.

When you close your earthly story,

Will you join them in their bliss?

(CHORUS:

Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, by and by?

Is a better home awaiting

In the sky, in the sky?)

In the joyous days of childhood

Oft they told of wondrous love

Pointed to the dying Saviour;

Now they dwell with Him above.

(Chorus)

You remember songs of heaven

Which you sang with childish voice.

Do you love the hymns they taught you,

Or are songs of earth your choice?

(Chorus)

You can picture happy gath'rings

Round the fireside long ago,

And you think of tearful partings

When they left you here below.

(Chorus)

One by one their seats were emptied.

One by one they went away.

Now the family is parted.

Will it be complete one day?

(Chorus)

這首歌的改版版本(Can the Circle be Unbroken)是由A. P. Carter編寫，作為葬禮的讚美詩，於1935年由卡特家族發行。卡特家族的版本在原有的音樂、歌詞結構下修改了歌詞內容與合唱內容；歌詞涉及了敘述者母親的死亡，喪葬和哀悼。

歌詞中，合唱部分的第2、4行中間部分添加了“Lord”一詞；合唱部分的第一句由疑問語氣變為陳述，單詞“Will”變為“Can”。

Carter version仍受著作權保護。Carter version已被許多團體或音樂家翻唱。

Can the circle be unbroken
但願循環不被打破
By and by,Lord,by and by
主啊,在不久的將來
There's a better home a waiting
我們終將團聚
In the sky,Lord,in the sky
在天上人間