1 From Olivet’s sequestered seats,
What sounds of transport spread?
What concourse moves thro’ Salem’s streets,
To Sion’s holy head?
Behold Him there in lowliest guise,
The Savior of mankind!
Triumphal shouts before Him rise,
And shouts reply behind:
And, "Strike" they cry," your loudest string:
He comes—Hosanna to our king!"
2 Nor these alone, that present train,
Their present king adored;
An earlier and a later strain
Extol the self-same Lord.
Obedient to His Father’s will,
He came—He lived, He died;
Congratulating voices still
Before and after cried,
"All hail the Prince of David’s line!
Hosanna to the Man divine!"
3 He came to earth: from eldest years,
A long and bright array
Of prophet bards and patriarch seers
Proclaimed the glorious day:
The light of Heav’n in every breast,
Its fire on every lip,
In tuneful chorus on they pressed,
A goodly fellowship:
And still their pealing anthem ran,
"Hosanna to the Son of Man!"
4 He came to earth, thro’ life He passed
A man of griefs; and lo,
A noble army following fast
His track of pain and woe:
All decked with palms, and strangely bright,
That suffering host appears;
And stainless are their robes of white,
Tho’ steeped in blood and tears!
And sweet their martyr anthem flows,
"Hosanna to the Man of woes!"
5 From ages past descends the lay
To ages yet to be,
Till far its echoes roll away
Into eternity.
But oh! while saints and angels high
Thy final triumph share,
Amidst Thy followers, Lord, shall I
Tho’ last and meanest there,
Receive a place, and feebly raise
A faint hosanna to Thy praise?
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #16322