A Special Song
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As a kid, there was a song we all sang in school choir,
That was both religious and patriotic setting me on fire,
The song gave me chills making the hair on my neck raise,
And I always remember two stanzas that with me did stay.
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A Special Song
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That song that I remembered which was so well written,
Was “The Battle Hymn Of The Republic” from back then.
The first stanza was just great that I sang with such pride
That may have just given you a few of those chills inside.
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The very first stanza and the last stanza with me did stay,
That still make me feel so very good until this very day.
The first stanza is provided below for your quick review,
Read it slowly and soak in the words until you are through.
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“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord,
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword,
His truth is marching on”
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Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.”
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Both strong religious and deep patriotic feeling is relayed,
In this first stanza that with me so very long has stayed.
Perhaps you felt some of those feelings stir a bit in you,
As you read the first short stanza that you recalled too.
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The last stanza relays some of these same feelings again,
So it is copied below for you to remember from back then.
The song was written by Julia Ward Howe in the year 1861,
When the awful Civil War was upon us with all of the guns.
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“In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me,
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
Our God is marching on.
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Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
While God is marching on”
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The song was sung to the tune of a song somewhat older,
Called “John Browns Body” that seems so much colder,
But both of the songs are rich in our own America History
“Let us die to make men free” tells the Civil War’s story.
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I don’t hear this song that I loved then much anymore,
In fact, I can’t remember hearing it in 40 years or more.
Perhaps people are afraid of being condemned like fools.
Just like some have condemned having God in schools.
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.PS: The Cavaliers won the NBA championship tonight. heh, heh, heh.
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By Bill
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Thanks for reading A Special Song,
Bill