The Army and Navy Hymnal/Hymns/Forward! Be Our Watchword

The Army and Navy Hymnal
edited by Henry Augustine Smith
Forward! Be Our Watchword by Henry Alford
(Watchword by Henry Thomas Smart)
1868227The Army and Navy Hymnal — Forward! Be Our WatchwordHenry Augustine SmithHenry Alford
(Watchword by Henry Thomas Smart)

Forward! Be Our Watchword 123
(WATCHWORD. 6, 6, 6, 6..12 lines)
Henry Alford, 1871 Henry Smart, 1872
 
  1. For-ward! be our watchword, Steps and voices joined;
    Seek the things before us, Not a look behind.
    Burns the firey pillar At our army's head;
    Who shall dream of shrinking? By our Captain led?
    Forward through the desert, Thro' the toil and fight!
    Jordan flows be fore 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 or these hath uttered Thought or speech a word.
    Forward marching eastward, Where heaven is bright,
    Till the veil be lifted, Till our faith be sight,
  3. Far o'er yon horizon Rise the city towers,
    Where our God abideth:That fair home is ours.
    Flash the streets with jasper, Shine the gates with gold!
    Flows the gladening river, Shedding joys untold;
    Thither, on thitherm In the Spirit's might,
    Pilgrims, to your country, Forward into light Amen.