About 1856 William Steffe of South Carolina wrote a camp-meeting song with the traditional "Glory Hallelujah" refrain. It started with the words "Say, brothers, will you meet us on Canaan's happy shore?" The tune had such an infectious swing that it became widely known.
Early in the Civil War, a regiment stationed in Boston included a soldier named John Brown. This regiment using Steffe's tune sang about the fiery John Brown of Kansas who shortly before had made his stand against slavery, but directed it as a jest toward their contemporary John Brown.
Thomas Hovenden,
The Last Moments of John Brown (1884, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC)
This version, using the words "John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave, but his soul goes marching on," soon became popular among the Union troops. In December 1861, Julia Ward Howe heard this version being sung, and at the suggestion of a friend, she went back to the Hotel Willard in Washington... and wrote the new words for Steffe's tune, now known as "Battle Hymn of the Republic." This stirring poem was published in The Atlantic Monthly in February, 1862, and soon the words of Mrs. Howe of Boston, sung to the tune by the Southerner, William Steffe, became synonymous with the Union cause.
The hymn ap­peared in the At­lant­ic Month­ly in 1862. It was sung at the fun­er­als of Brit­ish states­man Win­ston Church­ill, Amer­i­can sen­at­or Ro­bert Ken­ne­dy, and Am­er­i­can pre­si­dent Ron­ald Rea­gan.
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 has loosed the fateful lightning
of His terrible swift sword,
His truth is marching on!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujiah!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujiah!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujiah!
His truth is marching on.
He hath sounded forth the trumpet
that shall never sound retreat.
He is sifting out the hearts of men
before His judgement seat.
Oh, be swift my soul to answer Him,
Be jubilant, my feet,
My God is marching on!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujiah!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujiah!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujiah!
His truth 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 live to make men free,
while God is marching on.
Glory, Glory, Hallelujiah!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujiah!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujiah!
His truth is marching on.作者: 爱心幼儿园 时间: 2005-6-11 23:09
赞美主，很好听。作者: 清清芳草 时间: 2005-6-13 20:02
我喜欢作者: 一枝红杏 时间: 2005-6-14 09:39
第一次上音乐频道，就听到了这首歌。
