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

by Henry Alford(Watchword by Henry Thomas Smart)

Layout 2

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.