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CIVIL WAR SONGS
Battle Hymn of the Republic ~ Lyrics
By Mrs. Julia Ward Howe.
Air--"JOHN BROWN."
As sung by Chaplain C.C. McCabe while a prisoner in Libby,
after hearing Old Ben (the colored paper-seller in Richmond)
cry out, "_Great news by the telegraph! Great battles at
Gettysburg! Union soldiers gain the day!_" Upon hearing such
glorious news Chaplain McCabe sung this soul-stirring hymn,
all the prisoners joining heartily in the chorus, making the
old prison walls ring--"Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!"
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is tramping out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible quick sword;
His truth is marching on.
CHORUS.--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
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 have read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
CHORUS.--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows of steel,
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with my grace shall deal;
Let the hero born of woman crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on."
CHORUS.--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
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.--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
In the beauties of the lillies 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.--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
CIVIL WAR SONGS
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