The "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is an American patriotic song dating back to the civil war of 1816. Written by the abolitionist writer Julia Ward Howe, the song was used as an unofficial anthem of the Union states, which was meant to rival "God Save the South" used by the Confederate States of America. The music is derived from that of "John Brown's Body", a song about an abolitionist leader to which Howe intended to author her lyrics. Composed by William Steffe, it was rearranged by James E. Greenleaf, C. S. Hall, and C. B. Marsh.
Lyrics[]
English original[]
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, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
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 judgment-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[1][2]
References[]
- ↑ The Battle Hymn of the Republic (February 1862). Howe, Julia Ward. The Atlantic Monthly. 9 (52): 10.
- ↑ The Battle Hymn of the Republic (September 2001). Stossel, Sage, The Atlantic Monthly.