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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

It may be at morn as the day we are greeting

Hope of Glory Preparing for Christ’s Return

English1312
1
It may be at morn as the day we are greeting;
It may be the time when the saints all are meeting;
But one thing we know, for the Spirit bears witness,
That Jesus will come very soon!
 
O Lord Jesus, Amen!
The church soon will see Thee again!
“Thou art coming! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah, Amen!
Hallelujah, Amen!”
2
The days hasten by—there’s no time for delaying;
So grasping each moment by watching and praying
And in everything giving thanks and rejoicing,
We’ll welcome our Lord’s return.
3
An instant, a twinkling, and Jesus descending
Will come for His saints in His glory transcending.
He’ll come as the Bridegroom—as such we’ll behold Him—
To take to Himself His Bride!
4
What joy, what delight, when we finally meet Him!
The One whom we love—O what rapture to greet Him!
Our Lord and our life, our Beloved, our Bridegroom
Will take to Himself His Bride!

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Richard Housel

Long Island, New York, United States

Jun 28, 2025

I was thinking of the original lyrics today -
1 It may be at morn, when the day is awaking,
When sunlight thro' darkness and shadow is breaking,
That Jesus will come in the fullness of glory;
To receive from the world His own.

Chorus:
O Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song.
Christ returneth! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Amen,
Hallelujah! Amen.
2 It may be at midday, it may be at twilight,
It may be, perchance, that the blackness of midnight
Will burst into light in the blaze of His glory,
When Jesus receives His own. [Chorus]
3 While hosts cry Hosanna, from heaven descending,
With glorified saints and the angels attending,
With grace on His brow, like a halo of glory,
Will Jesus receive His own. [Chorus]
4 O joy! O delight! Should we go without dying,
No sickness, no sadness, no dread and no crying,
Caught up thro' the clouds with our Lord into glory,
When Jesus receives His own. [Chorus]

But I pray the gospel will really be spread through the whole inhabited earth, to every tribe and tongue and people and nation and every 'ethne' - the Greek word for nation from which we get ethnic group. O Lord, haste that day, the day when all the families of the earth will be blessed as per Gen 12:3.

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Frank Cummings

Ronan, MT, United States

Sep 1, 2018

You changed the words! Interesting in places, but misses the triumphant excitement in the chorus especially: O Lord Jesus how long, how long, 'til we shout the glad song? Hallelujah, Christ returneth, Christ returneth, Amen.

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David

Austin, TX, United States

Sep 27, 2015

Lord we love You!

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Apisai

Hamilton, New Zealand

Jul 23, 2015

Nice chorus

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Rex B

Irvine, CA, United States

Mar 17, 2013

Oh Lord, we love Your coming! Hallelujah!

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Luck Nansereko 幸运

Shanghai, China

Jun 10, 2012

Praise God, JESUS is coming. We shall finally see Him face to face. Let us be with Him. Amen.

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