Scripture Verse

Captain of their salvation… Hebrews 2:10

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: Bur­ton B. Bos­worth, 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 bet­ter pho­to of Bos­worth (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Burton B. Bosworth (1887–1958)

Lyrics

Soldiers are we in the ar­my,
Fighting for Christ here be­low;
We’ll push ahead with a con­quer­ing tread,
And ov­er the top will go.

Refrain

Over the top with Je­sus,
Over the top we’ll go;
Jesus, our migh­ty cap­tain,
Leads us against the foe;
Over the top with Je­sus,
Over the top we’ll go;
Victory is sure if with Je­sus
Over the top we go.

Jesus, our migh­ty com­mand­er,
Leads on to vic­to­ry, I know;
Exploits we’ll do if to Je­sus we’re true,
And ov­er the top will go.

Refrain

Where’er He leads we will fol­low,
Follow with hearts all aglow;
With love di­vine, break the ene­my’s line,
As ov­er the top we go.

Refrain

Enlist to­day for King Je­sus,
Courage and loy­al­ty show;
Take up your cross, count­ing all else but dross,
And over the top we’ll go.

Refrain