The United Methodist Hymnal

717

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

1 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.

Refrain:
Glory, glory, hallelujah! 
Glory, glory, hallelujah! 
Glory, glory, hallelujah! 
His truth is marching on.

2 I have seen him in the watchfires 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.
[Refrain]

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

4 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.
[Refrain]

5 He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
he is wisdom to the mighty, he is honor to the brave; 
so the world shall be his footstool, and the soul of wrong his slave. 
Our God is marching on.
[Refrain]

WORDS: Julia Ward Howe, 1861, alt.
Theme: Christian Year: Christ the King; Glory; God's World: Consummation; Jesus Christ: Example; Judgment; New Heaven and a New Earth: Return and Reign of the Lord; Responses, Antiphonal; Service Music: Scripture Acclamations; Triumph