We shall see face to face.
1 Corinthians 13:12
Words: Neva P. Prentice, in Hymns of Worship and Service (New York: Century Company, 1905).
Music: Maro L. Bartlett (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Prentice or Bartlett (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
They’ll never cross the valleys,
Or crystal waters sweet,
They’ll never face the foeman,
When charging armies meet;
O’er mountains, vast and hoary,
O’er hill and grassy plain,
Our soldier heroes sleeping,
Shall never march again.
Refrain
They’ll never march again,
They’ll never march again,
Our soldier heroes sleeping,
Shall never march again.
We’ll call our hosts together,
From over land and sea,
They’ll never hear the trumpet,
Or sound of reveille;
Our country’s flag shall lead them,
A host as strong and brave,
As they who sleep in silence,
Where flowers o’er them wave.
Refrain
They fought and won the battle,
Those hero boys of ours,
And we are left to weep them
And strew their graves with flowers;
They’ve won the palms of glory,
They wear the rose of grace,
Beneath His crown of sunlight
Their souls shall see His face.
Refrain
Their feet shall cross the valleys,
And Eden’s rivers sweet,
They’ll lie beside the fountains,
Where angels joyful meet;
But ’mid their country’s battles,
O’er any earthy plain,
Our soldier heroes sleeping,
Shall never march again.
Refrain