Work of our founders we extol

Representative Text

1 Work of our Founders we extol,
Our fathers praises sing we now;
On this our year of Jubilee
All Zion joins in loyal vow.
Work of our founders, noble work,
We'll labor on and never shirk.

2 Backward we look to see the flame,
Our voices blend in sweet refrain;
Onward we go with glad acclaim,
Proclaiming still our Zion's name.
Work of our founders, noble work,
We'll labor on and never shirk.

3 Labored they long tho' not in vain,
For us they fought and nobly died;
Their children yet the work maintain,
And fight the foes which they defied.
Work of our founders, noble work,
We'll labor on and never shirk.

4 For liberty they struck the blow,
Like them we toil– half million strong;
Building our Zion we onward go,
To God and them our praise belong.
Work of our founders, noble work,
We'll labor on and never shirk.

5 Forward we march with hearts aflame,
Loving the heritage they gave;
For it we'd die in their famed name
Or living, still be strong and brave.
Work of our founders, noble work,
We'll labor on and never shirk.

Source: The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal: official hymnal of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church #658

Author: Bettye Alleyne

(no biographical information available about Bettye Alleyne.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Work of our founders we extol
Author: Bettye Alleyne

Tune

WAREHAM (Knapp)

William Knapp (b. Wareham, Dorsetshire, England, 1698; d. Poole, Dorsetshire, 1768) composed WAREHAM, so named for his birthplace. A glover by trade, Knapp served as the parish clerk at St. James's Church in Poole (1729-1768) and was organist in both Wareham and Poole. Known in his time as the "coun…

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The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #658

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