The Battle hymn of the Republic

Julia Ward Howe

The Battle hymn of the Republic  

The Battle hymn of the Republic was the most popular song during the civil war used by the northern Union. Perhaps it should have been called the battle hymn of the Republicans because it was essentially a war was between the two parties over slavery (regardless of what the revisionist try to say). The song  was written by an abolitionist about God, specifically, His righteous judgment of the wicked and Gods prevailing Truth! It may be surprisingly to some, but Martin Luther King often referred to this song in his sermons and In fact, his last sermon (King's last public words) ends with the first lyrics of the "Battle Hymn": "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." Below is the original version written by Julia Ward Howe. Read all the lyrics for they are so inspirational to our times:

The Battle hymn of the Republic

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vineyard where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.

(Chorus)

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal";
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on.

(Chorus)

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

(Chorus)

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me.
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

Howe's original manuscript differed slightly from the published version. Most significantly, it included a final verse:

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.