Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs ‎#533

533. The Good Fight

1 Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Salvation's helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble 'neath our tread
And echo with our shout.

2 Our Lord sees every Christian die,
And feels each dying breath,
And calls out from a field nearby,
"Be faithful unto death."
Our brethren, dead beneath the plain,
Whose spirits never died,
Rise up to march and shout again,
"O Christ, be glorified!"

3 Must I be carried to the skies
On flow'ry beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed thru bloody seas?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy word.

Text Information

• First Line: Encamped along the hills of light
• Title: The Good Fight
• Meter: CMD
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2012
• Notes: COMPOSITE HYMN: Author is credited as "various authors." Stanza 1 is comprised of the first half of stanza 1 and the second half of stanza 3 of Encamped along the hills of light by John Henry Yates. Stanza 2 is comprised of stanzas 2 and 4 of O men of age, O men of youth by C. A. Roberts. Stanza 3 is comprised of stanzas 2 and 4 of Am I a soldier of the Cross by Isaac Watts. Third line (brace) of tune derived from the third line of STAR OF COUNTY DOWN

Tune Information

• Name: KINGSFOLD-COUNTY DOWN
• Alterer: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1906)
• Recaster: C. A. Roberts (2012)
• Meter: CMD
• Key: F♯ Minor
• Source: Broadwood and Fuller-Maitland's English County Songs (1893)
• Copyright: Arr. © 2012 C. A. Roberts