The Cyber Hymnal ‎#11986

11986. O, We Are Volunteers

1 O, we are volunteers
In the army of the Lord,
Forming into line at our Captain’s word;
We are under marching orders
To take the battlefield,
And we’ll ne’er give o’er the fight
Till the foe shall yield.

Refrain:
Come and join the army,
The army of the Lord,
Jesus is our Captain, we rally at His word;
Sharp will be the conflict
With the powers of sin,
But with such a leader, we are sure to win.

2 The glory of our flag
Is the emblem of the dove,
Gleaming are our swords
From the forge of love;
We go forth, but not to battle
For earthly honors vain,
’Tis a bright immortal crown
That we seek to gain. [Refrain]

3 Our foes are in the field,
Pressing hard on every side,
Envy, anger, hatred, with self and pride;
They are cruel, fierce and strong,
Ever ready to attack,
We must watch and fight and pray
If we’d drive them back. [Refrain]

4 Oh, glorious is the struggle
In which we draw the sword,
Glorious is the kingdom of Christ, our Lord;
It shall spread from sea to sea,
It shall reach from shore to shore,
And His people shall be blessèd
For evermore. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: O, we are volunteers
• Title: O, We Are Volunteers
• Author: George Frederick Root (1862)
• Refrain First Line: Come and join the army
• Language: English
• Source: The Silver Chime (Boston: Henry tolman, 1862)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: [O, we are volunteers]
• Composer: George Frederick Root
• Key: G Major or modal
• Copyright: Public Domain