Uncloudy Day
"Unclouded Day," also known as "Uncloudy Day," is a Christian gospel hymn written and composed by Josiah K. Alwood in August 1879, depicting the joys of heaven as a paradise beyond the skies where no storm clouds gather and eternal light prevails.[1][2] Alwood, a circuit-riding preacher and presiding elder in the United Brethren in Christ denomination (1828–1909), drew inspiration for the hymn during a nighttime journey home to Morenci, Michigan, after a debate in Spring Hill, Ohio.[3][4] As he traveled under a clear, moonlit sky and spotted a rainbow against distant clouds around 1 a.m., Alwood's heart filled with joy, leading him to exclaim, "O the land of cloudless day!"[1] He composed the melody at the organ and penned the four stanzas in a day and a half, drawing on biblical imagery of heaven from Revelation, including the eternal paradise described in chapters 21 and 22.[1] The hymn's lyrics emphasize eschatological hope, with verses describing a "home far beyond the skies" and a refrain repeating, "O the land of cloudless day, / O the land of an unclouded sky," structured in 12.10.12.10 meter with refrain.[2] First published in 1885 and with a notable appearance in the Christian Conservator on February 26, 1896, it quickly gained traction in church hymnals.[1][2] It has been documented in 239 hymnals, including the African American Heritage Hymnal (2001) and One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (2018).[2] Its enduring popularity extends beyond sacred settings into secular recordings, beginning with the Smoky Mountain Sacred Singers' version in 1928.[5] Notable covers include Elvis Presley's rendition on his 1967 album How Great Thou Art, Willie Nelson's performance at the 1986 Farm Aid concert, and interpretations by The Staple Singers, Eddy Arnold, Ricky Skaggs, and Ralph Stanley, cementing its status as one of America's most beloved gospel standards.[1][5][6]Origins and Composition
Composer Background
Josiah Kelley Alwood (1828–1909) was an American minister and hymn writer born on July 15, 1828, in Harrison County, Ohio.[4] As a key figure in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, a denomination rooted in the revivalist movements of the early 19th century, Alwood dedicated his life to evangelical work and musical contributions within Midwestern Protestant communities.[3] He married twice—first to Elizabeth Dinius and later to Sara Susanna Hodges—and fathered several children, including Olin Alwood, who later became a bishop in the same church.[7] Alwood's career as a circuit-riding preacher began in the 1850s, involving extensive travel on horseback through rural Ohio and Michigan to conduct revival meetings, lectures, and pastoral duties without a fixed salary until his ordination in 1859.[4] He advanced to become an elder in the North Ohio Conference and served as its presiding elder from 1883 to 1887, while also acting as a delegate to general conferences, including the pivotal 1889 gathering in York, Pennsylvania, where denominational divisions emerged.[4] In addition to his ministerial roles, Alwood engaged in music education, teaching singing schools and fostering congregational participation in worship through accessible hymnody.[3] Throughout the late 19th century, Alwood composed over 50 hymns, reflecting the revivalist emphasis on emotive, straightforward melodies designed for group singing in camp meetings and church services.[4] His works, including pieces published in collections like The Revival (1868), prioritized spiritual upliftment over complex instrumentation, aligning with the United Brethren's focus on heartfelt, participatory gospel music.[4] Alwood's compositional approach stemmed from his self-taught skills, often playing tunes by ear on simple organs, which ensured his hymns remained practical for widespread use in evangelical settings.[3] During a trip in 1879, he drew inspiration for one of his most enduring pieces, "Uncloudy Day."[3]Inspiration and Writing Process
In August 1879, Josiah K. Alwood, a minister and composer, was traveling by buggy from Spring Hill, Ohio, to his home in Morenci, Michigan, following a debate with a Seventh-day Adventist minister during a preaching engagement.[1][3] Around 1 a.m., he observed a striking rainbow arching north by northwest against a dense black nimbus cloud that spanned about 40 degrees of the horizon and extended halfway to the zenith, set against an otherwise clear sky illuminated by a low-hanging moon in the southeast.[1] This vivid celestial display, evoking hope and renewal amid encroaching darkness, directly inspired the song's central imagery of a heavenly realm free from storms and clouds.[1] The balmy, cloudless night soothed Alwood's nerves and refreshed his spirit, leading him to retire upon arriving home.[1] Upon awakening the next morning, he recalled the scene and felt filled with a sweet melody, prompting him to compose both the tune and lyrics at the organ.[1] He completed the music immediately and devoted the following day and a half to crafting the four stanzas, resulting in the hymn known as "The Unclouded Day."[1] Alwood later recounted this creative process in his 1896 article "A Rainbow at Midnight and a Song with Morning," published in the Christian Conservator.[1]Lyrics and Musical Structure
Full Lyrics
The full lyrics of "Uncloudy Day," as originally composed by Josiah K. Alwood in 1879, consist of four verses and a repeating chorus, emphasizing vivid imagery of a heavenly realm free from earthly afflictions such as storm clouds, tears, and death.[2] Verse 1O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,
O they tell me of a home far away;
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an uncloudy day. Chorus
O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day. Verse 2
O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone,
O they tell me of that land far away,
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom
Sheds its fragrance through the uncloudy day. Verse 3
O they tell me that mine eyes shall behold the King,
O they tell me that mine eyes shall behold
Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow,
In the city that is made of gold. Verse 4
O they tell me that He smiles on His children there,
And His smile drives their sorrows all away;
And they tell me that no tears ever come again,
In that lovely land of uncloudy day.[8] The lyrics employ a simple ABAB rhyme scheme in each stanza, creating a rhythmic flow that mirrors the song's theme of serene eternity, while the repeated phrase "O they tell me" serves as a poetic device to build emphasis and evoke a sense of communal testimony about the afterlife.[2] This repetition underscores eschatological themes of eternal joy, familial reunion, and divine presence, portraying heaven as a realm of unmarred perfection where believers will witness the King and experience unending peace. Theologically, these images draw directly from Christian apocalyptic visions, particularly Revelation 21:4, which describes a new heaven and earth devoid of death, mourning, sorrow, or pain. The song's focus on millennialist hope—envisioning a future paradise beyond temporal suffering—aligns with 19th-century evangelical emphases on personal salvation and heavenly reward.[2] Early printings of the hymn show minor variations in wording, such as "uncloudy day" in the original 1879 version versus "unclouded day" in some later adaptations and recordings, reflecting editorial preferences for smoother phrasing while preserving the core imagery of celestial clarity.[8][9]