Scripture Verse

Captain of their salvation… Hebrews 2:10

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: James V. Reid, 1918 (🔊 pdf nwc). The phrase go­ing ov­er the top was born in the trench war­fare of World War I: At­tacks start­ing from trench­es re­quired in­fan­try to climb ov­er the top of the par­a­pet be­fore they could cross no man’s land to reach the en­e­my trench­es.

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Reid (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

There’s a battle raging
Over the land and sea,
True to Christ our captain we will be;
Satan’s hosts are mighty,
Fighting for ruin and sin,
But in this great conflict
Right is sure to win.

Refrain

Over the top for Jesus bravely we will go:
Over the top for Jesus, routing ev’ry foe,
Never delaying when we hear the bugle blow,
We’ll fight for right with all our might,
As over the top we go.

There’s a cry of sorrow
Rising from hearts oppressed,
There’s a world in sadness and unrest;
But the hope that thrills us,
Looking out into the night,
Christ, the Lord of battles,
Leads me in the fight.

Refrain

When the pow’rs of earth
Before our Redeemer shall kneel,
When the joy of triumph we shall feel;
Then with Christ who conquered,
Into the realms of the blest,
We shall march in victory
To eternal rest.

Refrain