Scripture Verse

Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people. Luke 2:30–31

Introduction

Words: Rhys H. Thomas, in The Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Hym­nal Sup­ple­ment with Tunes, ed­it­ed by George Booth (Lon­don: Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Pub­lish­ing House, 1912), num­ber 73.

Music: Ca­rey Bon­ner (🔊 pdf nwc). Some sourc­es show the com­pos­er as Frank E. New­ton, one of Bon­ner’s pseu­do­nyms.

Alternate Tune:

  • John Brown’s Bo­dy pos­si­bly by John Will­iam Stef­fe (🔊 pdf nwc) (adds re­frain)
portrait
Carey Bonner (1859–1938)
National Portrait Gallery

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Lyrics

Mine eyes have seen the dawning
Of a coming glo­ri­ous morn,
Mine ears have heard the angels’ song,
They sang when Christ was born;
I have caught the word of promise
Unto weary hearts and worn,
That God is marching on.

I can hear the steady tramping
Of ten thousand marching feet,
True men and women moving on
Through highway, lane and street;
They will ne­ver pause nor falter
Till the triumph is complete,
With God they’re marching on.

Let the sobs of helpless children
Crushed by crimes the law allows,
Let the blighted lives of women,
Lost through manhood’s broken vows,
Let the sighs of hopeless sorrow
Every free man’s heart arouse,
Since God is marching on.

The cries of all earth’s little ones
Have reached the great white throne,
And the King Himself has hearkened,
He has made their griefs His own;
He is come to help the helpless,
He will make His judgments known,
His strength is marching on.

Though the chains of sin be heavy,
And they bind our native land,
Though the curse be on the nations,
Yet our God has raised His hand;
He is calling us to follow,
We advance at His command;
With Him we’re marching on.

No multitude is mighty
That has made a league with sin,
Nor wealth nor wisdom can defend,
When evil rules within,
For the meek shall overcome them,
And the right the day must win,
Since God is marching on.