I've Got a Mansion Just Over the Hilltop | Lyrics, about and tune

Mansion Over the Hilltop Lyrics

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below
A little silver and a little gold
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that's silver lined

 

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold

 

Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely
I'm not discouraged I'm heaven bound
I'm but a pilgrim in search of the city
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown

 

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold

 

About the Hymn: Mansion Over the Hilltop

Songwriter: Ira F. Stanphill (1914-1993)

Year: 1949

Place: New Mexico, United States

History of the Hymn "Mansion Over the Hilltop"

“Mansion Over the Hilltop” is a beloved Southern Gospel song written by Ira F. Stanphill in 1949. Stanphill was born on 14th February, 1914, in New Mexico, just a few months before the world faced the misery of the first World War. Meanwhile, Stanphill grew up to become a gifted musician. He was able to play the piano, organ, and other instruments from the age of 10. By the age of seventeen, he was composing songs and singing. Later, he became a pastor and was known as a singing evangelist.

The inspiration for “Mansion Over the Hilltop” came from a story Stanphill heard. One day, a wealthy man facing bankruptcy drove through a rural area and noticed a dilapidated house needing repairs. A young girl, poorly dressed, played in the front yard. The man struck up a conversation with her, expressing sympathy for her living conditions. The girl excitedly replied, “Why haven’t you heard? My daddy just inherited a fortune, and he’s building us a mansion just over that hill over there. I won’t have to live in this house forever.” Moved by this encounter, Stanphill wrote the song that evening and began singing it within a few days.

Throughout his career, Ira Stanphill wrote over 550 gospel songs, including other well-known titles like “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” “Follow Me,” “Room at the Cross For You,” “Suppertime,” and “He Knows What He’s Doin’ All the Time.” Elvis Presley also recorded “Mansion Over the Hilltop” for his gospel album.

Stanphill died on December 30, 1993 in Kansas, United States. Even so, Stanphill’s legacy lives on through his timeless music, and this hymn continues to inspire listeners with its message of hope and anticipation of a heavenly home beyond life’s struggles.

Video Credit: Praise and Harmony Singer