Battle Hymn of the Republic

History

[Anotherpundit]

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 has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.

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
l can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnish`d 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.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

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.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

ln 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.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

[Anotherpundit]

Always before, whenever I've heard this song, I've gotten pissy about it, because I couldn't help but associate it with, well, you know, damyankees.

Now I want this song.

[tallhappy]

John Brown's Body Lies a-moldering in the grave (x3)
His sould goes marching on

[dandelion]

I always loved it, even tho' a Confederate. And ahh, you are beautiful to leave it the way it was written -

As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free"...

[Anotherpundit]

bumpin'

[HiTech RedNeck]

"As ye deal with my contemners, So with you my grace shall deal;"

I've often wondered about how this verse fit the historical context of the song. God's "contemners" are His enemies (or unbelievers). Was this a jab at the "evangelization opportunity" excuse tendered by some Christian preachers for slavery?

[bokonon]

The Battle Hymn of the Republic (brought down to date)

Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword; He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored; He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored; His lust is marching on.

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; They have builded him an altar in the Eastern dews and damps; I have read his doomful mission by the dim and flaring lamps -- His night is marching on.

I have read his bandit gospel writ in burnished rows of steel: "As ye deal with my pretensions, so with you my wrath shall deal; Let the faithless son of Freedom crush the patriot with his heel; Lo, Greed is marching on!"

We have legalized the strumpet and are guarding her retreat;* Greed is seeking out commercial souls before his judgement seat; O, be swift, ye clods, to answer him! be jubilant my feet! Our god is marching on!

In a sordid slime harmonious Greed was born in yonder ditch, With a longing in his bosom -- and for others' goods an itch. As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich -- Our god is marching on.

--Mark Train

[Varda]

I used to sing this song in school. Thanks for this, I 've printed it out for my son.

[Anotherpundit]

bump.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I heard another one on the radio that was great. I only know the chorus though:

I'm proud to be an American For at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died Who gave that right to me. And I'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today. For there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

Two great songs.

[Born in a Rage]

It was really moving when they sang this at the National Prayer service today - Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

[AppyPappy]

Saddle up, boys. We're off to kill Yankees....er, sorry, terrorists.

[xp38]

I would say the most moving song in American History.

[tophat9000]

To me whenever I her Americans sing "Battle Hymn of the Republic"(particularly like it was sung today) you know the country is about to come down on someone with the wrath of Almighty God

[Vicki]

It was great hearing this song today at the service in Washington, D.C. I loved singing this song in school as well other patriotic songs.

Parents need to insist that these songs be taught in our schools. If the schools won't do it, then parents need to teach them.