Scripture Verse

I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Joshua 5:14

Introduction

portrait
John H. Tenney (1840–1918)

Words: Jus­tus B. Vin­ton, in White Robes, by Alon­zo J. Ab­bey & Mer­ritt J. Mun­ger (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ol­iv­er Dit­son, 1879), num­ber 24. Based on the si­mi­lar­i­ty in word­ing, this song was evi­dent­ly in­spired by Hold the Fort, writ­ten a few years ear­li­er.

Music: Can­cún John H. Ten­ney (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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

Lyrics

Ho! my com­rades, see the sig­nal
Jesus waves on high;
Satan’s bat­tle­ments are reel­ing;
Hear our cap­tain’s cry.

Storm the fort! For I am lead­ing!
I have shown you how!

Shout the an­swer back to Hea­ven,
We are rea­dy now!

See! the lof­ty walls are frown­ing,
Held by Sa­tan’s pow­er;
Sin en­shrouds the world in dark­ness;
Now’s the storm­ing hour.

Refrain

See! the pro­phets now are show­ing
How the fort must fall;
There is no such thing as fail­ing;
Shout, my com­rades all.

Refrain

Fierce and long the siege has last­ed,
But the end is near;
Onward leads our great com­mand­er;
Cheer, my com­rades, cheer!

Refrain