What are they doing in heaven today, 
where sin and sorrow have all gone away
?
Peace abounds like a river, they say

what are they doing there now?
I'm thinking of friends whom I used to know
, 
who lived and suffered in this world below

but they're gone off to heaven
but what I want to know,

what are they doing there now?

What are they doing in heaven today, 
where sin and sorrow have all gone away
?
Peace abounds like a river, they say
what are they doing there now?

There's some whose hearts were burdened with care

they paid for their moment with fighting and tears

but they clung to the cross with trembling fear

What are they doing there now?
What are they doing in heaven today,
where sin and sorrow have all gone away?

Peace abounds like a river, they say
what are they doing there now?
And there's some whose bodies were full of disease

physicians and doctors couldn't give them much ease

but they suffered 'til death brought a final release
what are they doing there now?
What are they doing in heaven today, 
where sin and sorrow have all gone away
?
Peace abounds like a river, they say
what are they doing there now?

There's some who were poor and often despised

they looked up toward heaven with tear-blinded eyes

while people were heedless and deaf to their cries

what are they doing there now?
What are they doing in heaven today
,
where sin and sorrow have all gone away?

Peace abounds like a river, they say
what are they doing there now?