Johnson oatman jr 1856 1922 cast

“Higher Ground” (“I’m Pressing On the Upward Way”)
by Johnson Oatman Jr.
Songs of Zion, 39

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain:
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s table land;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Johnson Oatman Jr.

(1856–1922) was one of the most prolific gospel songwriters of his day—with some 7000 texts to his credit. Hymnary.org includes more than 1,150 texts found in various collections. “There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus” (“No, Not One”) was the most published song, and “When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed” (“Count Your Blessings”), the third most published song.

“Higher Ground” is the second most published song.

Oatman Jr. was a New Jersey native whose father, Johnson Oatman Sr., had a fi