What does “by and by” mean?

Question

There are words in the chorus of the "Preacher and the Slave" song by Joe Hill:

You will eat, by and by,
In that glorious land above the sky;
Work and pray, live on hay,
You'll get pie in the sky when you die

What does "by and by" mean?

Alenanno · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-27 11:47:12Z

up vote 9 down vote accepted

My dictionary says:

By and by - before long; eventually.

Strangely there was nothing on the OALD.

answered Apr 27 '11 at 11:47

Alenanno
12.3k22049

3

+1; Similar phrases are "sooner or later" and "one of these days". – MrHen Apr 27 '11 at 15:59

+1; Thanks for the contribution. :D The more, the better! – Alenanno Apr 27 '11 at 15:59

Benjol · Answer 2 · 2011-04-27 11:25:13Z

up vote 3 down vote

Some (indeterminate) time in the future.

answered Apr 27 '11 at 11:25

Benjol
2,53411120

2 Answers