Meet Me There - Fanny J. Crosby

Fanny Crosby, who was known as “the blind poet,” was one of the most prolific hymn writers in history. She wrote poems even as a young girl, but she didn’t begin to write hymns and gospel songs until she was in her forties. It’s estimated that she wrote between two thousand and eight thousand hymn poems. Some are still being discovered and are being put to music. It’s sometimes difficult to identify Crosby’s writing because she used as many as two hundred pseudonyms, supposedly because of her modesty. This was actually necessary because she produced so much that publishers assigned these names to her work so that consumers wouldn’t think she was the only author being published. It’s believed that books containing her lyrics have sold 100 million copies.

Many stories are told about how her songs came to be, not only because she was so prolific but also because she was such an interesting person and wrote spontaneously. Fanny Crosby wrote poems that were manifested in her godly life. She knew how to listen and talk to people who were in desperate need; she spent several days every week working in the missions of the Bowery in New York City. At the age of 23, she was the first woman to speak before the United States Senate. She spoke about educating the blind, moving many to tears with her poems and personality. She became friends with several presidents and stayed in the White House on numerous occasions. By the early 20th century, she was a household name and was called the “Queen of Gospel Song Writers.”

Much of Fanny’s writing was spontaneous. Often, a noted composer would bring her a new tune. Almost immediately, upon hearing the tune, she’d have a complete hymn in her mind and would recite it faster than it could be transcribed. Other times, she’d get inspiration from a real-life situation or something said to her. Such was the case with “Meet Me There.” Noted hymn composer William J. Kirkpatrick was visiting Fanny’s home. Disappointed that he was leaving too soon, she said, “Oh, dear, it’s nothing but meeting and parting in this world, isn’t it?” He replied, referring to words written by P. P. Bliss, “Well, I will not say as Bliss did, ‘Meet me at the fountain,’ but I will say, ‘Where the tree of life is blooming,’ meet me there.” 

This inspired Crosby to write the gospel song “Meet Me There,” which was published in 1885 under the pseudonym Henrietta E. Blair. Kirkpatrick wrote the music, using dotted rhythms and careful use of fermatas to give the song an uplifting feel and sound of a camp meeting song. With well-written parts, this song is effective for congregational singing and is also well-suited for use by a choir or a quartet. “Meet Me There” expresses the anticipation of heaven and the joy of being reunited with loved ones. This glimpse of heaven should be a blessing for all believers to sing.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3).

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