Songs We Like to Sing


Published 1912
Battle Hymn of the Republic
            Julia Ward Howe


Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword,
His truth is marching on.

Chorus:
Glory! glory, Halelujah!
Glory! glory! Halelujah!
Glory! glory! Haleluhah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,
His day is marching on.

Chorus

I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows of steel;
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,"
Since God is marching on.

Chorus

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

Chorus

In the beauty of the lilies,Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

Chorus


NOTE: This song was inspired by a visit made by Mrs. Howe to the "Circling Camps" around Washington, gathered for the defence of that city, early in the war between the States.








© 1999, Lynn Waterman