Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near.
Joel 3:9
Words: Thomas L. Baily, in The Wells of Salvation, edited by John Sweney & William J. Kirkpatrick (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: John J. Hood, 1881), page 104.
Music: John R. Sweney (🔊 pdf nwc). Some hymnals show the composer as S. J. Robson, Sweney’s pseudonym.
Wake, brothers, wake,
The dawn is now appearing,
Light o’er the earth
Makes all so bright and cheering;
Loud sound the cry—
The conflict now is nearing—
For God and the right.
Refrain
On to the field,
The foe is there before us,
Strike for our cause,
And sing aloud our chorus,
Point to the flag
That waves in triumph o’er us;
Jesus is our king.
March, comrades, march,
The foe is drawing nearer,
Look o’er the field—
Their legions showing clearer,
Armed for the fray—
O what have we that’s dearer
Than God and His cause?
Refrain
Stand, soldiers, stand,
The foe is growing bolder,
Raise up the cross,
And shoulder put to shoulder;
Shout for our king,
Nor let our love grow colder,
For God and His truth.
Refrain
Cheer, Christians, cheer,
The word at last is spoken,
Hell and its host
No longer stand unbroken,
Victory is ours—
Be this our only token:
In God is our trust.
Refrain