While armies and navies are gathering for war,
The friends of the Slaves hear a voice from afar.
Go, break every yoke! bid the feeble be strong,
Gird on your bright armor, and go marching along.

Marching along! we are marching along,
To break every yoke, we are marching along;
The conflict with Slavery may be fearful and long,
But gird on your armor and go marching along.

Go, ransom the Slaves! saith Jehovah again,
Fear not to contend ’gainst oppression and sin,
Proclaim ye Liberty throughout all the land,
Thus marching along, you’ll obey My command.

Marching along! we are marching along,
To bring forth the jubilee, we’re marching along;
The conflict with Slavery may be fearful and long,
But gird on your armor, and go marching along.

The foe is before us in battle array,
Yet ne’er will we falter, nor turn from our way;
The Lord is strength! Oh, let this be our song,
As for Justice and Liberty we are marching along.

Marching along! we are marching along,
In the strength of Jehovah we’re marching along;
The conflict with Slavery may be fearful and long,
So we gird on our armor, and go marching along.

Through conflicts and trials our crowns must be won,
But we ask no discharge till our work is well done;
For of this we are assured that we shall not go wrong,
While for Freedom and Justice we are marching along.

Marching along! we are marching along,
For Justice and Freedom we are marching along;
The conflict with Slavery may be fearful and long,
So we gird on our armor, and go marching along.

Press onward! Press onward! and hope to the end,
When we battle for the Truth, we have always a Friend
Soon shall we join in the conqueror’s song,
For the Lord is our Leader, as we’re marching along.

Marching along! we are marching along,
The Lord is our Leader, as we’re marching along;
The conflict with Slavery may be fearful and long,
So we gird on our armor, and go marching along.

Adapted from William B. Bradbury, 1861
By Lewis Conger Lockwood