New From Ben & Rose: “On Heaven’s Bright Shore”. And…Are They Still Amish?

Ben and Rose are back with their first release of 2026, this one called “On Heaven’s Bright Shore”. There has apparently been more than one song with this general title/chorus.

This version we are told was written by a gentleman named Roscoe Reed (not to be confused with another song by that name dating to the early 1900s).

They sound great as usual, with Ben’s understated but soulful backing parts meshing nicely with Rose’s strong lead vocal. It’s a slow, uplifting hymn praising God, and singing of what Heaven holds for the faithful.

I can’t find out too much about the song’s background, but here are the lyrics:

On Heaven’s Bright Shore Lyrics

Out on the hills of glory land
So happy and free at God’s right hand
They tell of a place of marvelous grace
On Heaven’s bright shore

Pilgrims on earth someday will go
To live in that home forever more
Trusting in Him who died for sin,
And rose from the grave

On Heaven’s bright shore (on Heaven’s bright shore),
There’s gonna be no more dyin’ (over there)
Not one little grave (not one little grave),
In all that fair land (that wonderful land).
Not even a tear will dim the eye,
And no one up there will say goodbye
Just singing His praise through endless days
On Heaven’s bright shore (on Heaven’s bright shore)

When I must cross that rolling tide,
There’ll be someone on the other side
Welcoming me to that fair land,
Made perfect by love

When I walk up that milky white way,
I’ll see that home coming in a ray
How great it must be for angels to see
A pilgrim reach home

On Heaven’s bright shore (on Heaven’s bright shore),
There’s gonna be no more dyin’ (over there)
Not one little grave (not one little grave),
In all that fair land (that wonderful land)
Not even a tear will dim the eye,
And no one up there will say goodbye
Just singing His praise through endless days
On Heaven’s bright shore (on Heaven’s bright shore),
Just singing His praise through endless days
On Heaven’s bright shore

In the video we see Ben and Rose are back at producer Conrad Fisher’s Ragamuffin Hall. And, we see a familiar backdrop, a red-checkered tablecloth, like the one that featured in the couple’s first – and breakout – video, “Slowly But Surely”.

That is a neat throwback visual cue for their first video of the new year.

Ben and Rose in the “Slowly But Surely” video, their first release (December 2024)

Are Ben and Rose still Amish?

You’ll also notice some other things in the video. To address the obvious, you’ll see the couple’s appearance has changed.

Rose’s covering has gotten a lot smaller, and it is no longer a Lancaster County Amish prayer covering (aka kapp), but more like something you might see in a Mennonite church. Ben’s haircut has changed as well, with his clothing looking less traditionally Amish.

The most recent videos we’ve seen had the couple with a traditional Lancaster Amish look. But those had clearly been recorded earlier in the year, with the greenery and other signs telling us it was an earlier season.

So it’s quite possible, even likely, that they’re not Old Order Amish anymore; their clothing and appearance certainly suggest as much. And that’s actually one of the unconfirmed things I heard last month, while I was in Lancaster County, their home community.

That wouldn’t exactly be a surprise; people change directions, and the Amish church in Lancaster County has been in a state of flux, as mentioned in the recent profile on the couple. But whether they’re Amish or not shouldn’t matter regarding their music.

They got their start as Old Order Amish, but whatever church they might currently attend – or however they might describe themselves, for that matter, doesn’t change anything about their musical talent, or how we enjoy their songs (and I’ll underline – I’m not confirming anything here, just making what I think are reasonable observations).

So enjoy a listen of their latest, “On Heaven’s Bright Shore”, here:

 

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5 Comments

  1. Fran Grimes

    I noticed an electric stove too. Only God can judge anyone though.

  2. Liz Bourgeois

    Beautiful

    Erik, every time you post a story about Ben and Rose, I know it’s going to come with a beautiful song. She has a beautiful sound and Ben has a very lovely harmony. She makes me think of a young Dolly Parton when I close my eyes and listen, not completely, but some of her phrasing. Do you know if they have music to download or a CD to purchase? Do cars even have CDs anymore? in any event, thank you for sharing their music.

  3. Tabitha VanHorn

    Ben and Rose

    Di they have a CD? If so where to go to get it. Thank you.

  4. Kelley

    Singing in Shipshewana

    Ben & Rose are performing to a sold out performance at the Blue Gate in Shipshewana, Indiana this spring!

  5. HELEN Shope

    I’m friends with a lot of Minnanite family’s and you would not want better to be around. They are all amazing. And they wear Head coverings. Great Great people, Ben and Rose are a beautiful couple and sure have beautiful voices as all the other ones that are coming out and singing. It’s music we all need to listen to these days! GOD BLESS.!