Battle Hymn of the Republic
Danny Kaye Louis Armstrong Lyrics
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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.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,
His day is marching on.
I have read His fiery gospel writ in rows of burnished steel!
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you My grace shall deal!
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,"
Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
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!
While God is marching on.
The lyrics of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" tell the story of the coming of the Lord, as seen through the eyes of the song's narrator. The Lord is depicted as a force of justice, emerging with a swift sword to smite those who have transgressed against Him. The imagery of the Lord trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored is a reference to the biblical book of Revelation, where the grapes of wrath are used to symbolize divine judgment. The singer has seen the Lord in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps, suggesting that the Lord is omnipresent and watching over all of humanity.
The song's refrain, "Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on," reinforces the idea that the Lord's truth will always prevail, no matter what challenges or obstacles may lie in His path. The singer has read the Lord's "fiery gospel writ in rows of burnished steel," a reference to the Ten Commandments as written on tablets of stone. The Lord is depicted as a hero born of woman who will crush the serpent with His heel, another reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve and the serpent in the Garden of Eden.
Line by Line Meaning
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
I have witnessed the majestic arrival of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He is extracting justice where it is due from those who have gone astray;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
He has unleashed His divine wrath upon the wicked;
His truth is marching on.
His righteousness is prevailing in the world;
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Praise and joy to the Lord above!
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
I have recognized Him in the camps of those who follow His way;
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
They have built Him a sacred space amidst the hardships and challenges of life;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,
I can comprehend His fair and just judgment in trying times;
His day is marching on.
His reign of glory and righteousness is being established in the world;
I have read His fiery gospel writ in rows of burnished steel!
I have understood His passionate message engraved in steel;
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you My grace shall deal!
"You will receive the same grace that you extend to those who hate and reject Me!
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel",
Let the divine savior born of a woman triumph over evil;
Since God is marching on.
As our mighty God is working towards His purpose and goals;
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He has called us to battle and His call cannot be refused;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
He is discerning the intentions of people and separating the righteous from the sinners;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant, my feet!
Let us respond promptly with enthusiasm and joy, eager to do His will!
Our God is marching on.
The God we worship is taking forward steps towards His goals;
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
Jesus Christ was born in a land often associated with beauty
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
With His divine radiance, He transforms us;
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free!
As He sacrificed Himself to make us sinless, let us even sacrifice ourselves to ensure the freedom of others;
While God is marching on.
While our Lord is working towards the goals that he has set, and achieving them successfully.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jacktattis
These instruments have gone now I used to dance to these back in the 60s
@renard801
Despite his age, the great Loring 'Red' Nichols actually played his music parts in The Five Pennies movie, which was loosely based on his life story. Danny Kaye mimed to Red's playing.
@tiziana649
I grew up listening this LP so many times that at the end the noise was more then the music played by it but I had all of those songs well printed in my mind and I was able to sing all of them anyway. Of course it was a very broken Maccaroni English but they came from my soul and it was and remain the most brilliant music I ever heard.
@adamjbroit
ME too. Was one of the first 45's I ever had (as a 5 year old in 1965)..A side was 5 Penny Saints.
@jimswonger8111
My fathers favorite record was with Red Nichols playing The Battle Hymn on both sides, side A was going to a funeral, New Orleans style, and side B was coming back from the funeral. It was great.
@jacktattis
Wow I have never heard of that.
@helenemontreuil3417
Le duo Louis Armstrong et Danny Kaye est extraordinaire; nul autre duo ne donne une aussi bonne performance.
@Christofer1861
I first saw this when the movie was released. I was 9, and never forgot it.
@Christofer1861
I should add (after all these years) that my father took me to see this movie. He was a troubled man, who found it hard to show he loved me. Taking me to see movies like this was one way that was easier for him. (And he began teaching me how to play the trumpet the year after this movie came out.)
@user-xe3ow8bb2y
若い時にこの映画を5回見ました。この映画を観て感動したのが覚えています。