Forward! be our watchword (Harry Rowe Shelley)

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• (Posted 2021-12-01)  CPDL #66974:     

Editor: Douglas Walczak (submitted 2021-12-01).   Score information: Letter, 7 pages, 95 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Forward! be our watchword
Composer: Harry Rowe Shelley
Lyricist: Henry Alford
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Anthem

Language: English
Instruments: Organ

First published: 1909
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

1. Forward! be our watchword,
Steps and voices joined;
Seek the things before us,
Not a look behind.
Burns the fiery pillar
At our army’s head;
Who shall dream of shrinking,
By our captain led?
Forward through the desert,
Through the toil and fight;
Jordan flows before us,
Zion beams with light.

2. Glories upon glories
Hath our God prepared,
By the souls that love him
One day to be shared.
Eye hath not beheld them,
Ear hath never heard,
Nor of these hath uttered
Thought or speech a word.
Forward, marching eastward,
Where the heaven is bright;
Till the veil be lifted,
Till our faith be sight.

3. Far o'er yon horizon
Rise the city tow'rs,
Where our God abideth;
That fair home is ours:Flash the streets with jasper,
Shine the gates with gold;
Flows the glad'ning river,
Shedding joys untold.
Thither, onward thither
In the Spirit's might!
Pilgrims, to you country,
Forward into light!

4. To the Eternal Father
Loudest anthems raise,
To the Son and Spirit
Echo songs of praise:
The the Lord of glory,
Blessed Three in One,
Be by men and angels
Endless honor done.
Weak are earthly praises,
Dull the songs of night:
Forward into triumph!
Forward into light!

Amen.