Posted on 09/17/2001 12:53:52 PM PDT by American Soldier
"THE AMERICAN BATTLE HYMN"
Penned by an American soldier in Remembrance of 9/11
And in Anticipation of Operation Noble Eagle
Background: In a touching memorial ceremony demonstrating
the absolute solidarity between the peoples of America
and Britain in the bitter struggle to come, touching
renditions of The Star Spangled Banner and The Battle
Hymn of the Republic were performed bringing tears
to the eyes of both British and Americans. But the Battle
Hymn is a song rooted in a bitter fratricidal war; it's a
song of division. What we need now is a song of unity. I
have endeavored to bring the Battle Hymn up to date with the
present conflict. Out of respect for tradition, the first
verse remains in its original form.
My humble effort follows below.
God bless America. Confusion to our enemies.
------------------------------------------------------------
THE AMERICAN BATTLE HYMN
Tune: The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Lyrics:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword,
His truth is marching on.
CHORUS: Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on.
I saw the gleaming towers when the Beast came crashing in;
I swore our foes would reap the bitter harvest of their sin;
For the light shall conquer darkess and the just will surely win,
When God is marching on!
(CHORUS)
Now hear the cries of anguish of the innocents assailed;
Recall the fallen rescuers that all mankind has hailed;
We'll show those who'd destroy us just how badly they have failed,
When we go marching on!
(CHORUS)
We felt the righteous anger as the tragic story broke;
I glimpsed the devil's countenance there grinning in the smoke;
But the evil have no inkling of the anger they provoke,
And we go marching on!
(CHORUS)
The serpents danced in joy at this sad chapter that they wrote;
With our warriors upon them we shall see if they still gloat;
As now the cry for vengeance springs from every patriot's throat,
So we go marching on!
(CHORUS)
The brave Australians quickly swore they'd join us in the ranks;
Yes Canada and Britain said "We'll both stand by the Yanks!";
And the free men of the future shall forever owe them thanks,
Let's all go marching on!
(CHORUS)
I see the quiet anger of the soldier in the field;
Until we've won our vict'ry the Marines shall never yield;
See our sailors and our airmen and the mighty sword they wield,
As one we're marching on!
Please spread it far and wide. Whoever wrote this, I think everybody in the country ought to read his words.
What where their names
What were their names
Did you have a friend in the tower of flames.
The towers were in the city of New York
It was after all just another day at work
What were ther names
what were their names
did you have a friend aboard one of the planes
I am not a poet or song lyricist but I hope someone like you with far more talent than I could do something with this.
Stay well - Yorktown
Stay well - Yorktown
Death I make, singing
Heh-yeh! heh-yeh! heh-yeh! heh-yeh!
Bones I hack, singing
Heh-yeh! heh-yeh! heh-yeh! heh-yeh!
Death I make, singing
Heh-yeh! heh-yeh! heh-yeh! heh-yeh!
Of course, we could use some cheerful songs, too.
Come on sleepy head,
it's been such a long long while.
That the world's almost forgotten
the brilliance of your smile.
Let's fly to Damascus
We'll go skipping cross the dunes.
We'll have such fun, we'll outshine the Sun,
and shout echoes off the Moon.
I just heard the doorbell.
Take a guess who came around?
It's the jolly old Fat Man,
whose footsteps shake the ground.
My bright shining boyo,
you've been sleeping far too long.
Time to climb from your deep deep bed,
and sing your happy song.
Come open your present,
take a look what you just got.
A brand new cobalt jacket!
Man I tell you these are hot.
[instrumental break if I ever learn how to write a melody]
Little Boy time to go now -
Bring your friend the Fat Man too.
We'll have such fun, we'll outshine the Sun,
when we dance in the dust of Kabul.
Rudyark Kipling is one of my favorites and I flee to his writings whenever we have a storm like this. Here is one of his works that speaks to me and I presume all of us at this time - let me know if you agree!
While this was obviously written for 'The Great War',
It was not part of their blood,
It came to them very late
With long arrears to make good,
When the English began to hate.
They were not easily moved,
They were icy-willing to wait
Till every count should be proved,
Ere the English began to hate.
Their voices were even and low,
Their eyes were level and straight.
There was neither sign nor show,
When the English began to hate.
It was not preached to the crowd,
It was not taught by the State.
No man spoke it aloud,
When the English began to hate.
It was not suddenly bred,
It will not swiftly abate,
Through the chill years ahead,
When Time shall count from the date
That the English began to hate.
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