Battle Hymn of the Republic
November 22, 2020
Ron
Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Probably my favorite recording of this extraordinary anthem is the December 13, 1963 version rendered by Judy Garland on her television show in tribute to her friend, the just-slain JFK. The decision to do this against CBS's wishes cemented the fate of her series and it lasted only for the '63-'64 season, but the song remains as an indelibly powerful (and hugely iconic) television masterpiece.
The blood-red dress, not really seen to fullest impact in the original black-and-white broadcast, was the statement of martyrdom made by Mary Queen of Scots [my ancestor] at her own execution. The blood red dress was a nationwide cry of "foul!" and everyone on the inside fully understood. Not only was Garland close friends with Kennedy, but with his mega-movie-star "Rat Pack" brother-in-law Peter Lawford, who was an extremely key west coast figure in the Kennedy Camelot years. They all certainly understood what had just happened.
Not only do we stand at the 57th anniversary of that public ritual murder which stunted an entire nation, but we stand at the precipice of a time where those selfsame monsters, the very same ones, either win or lose. "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is an invocation to the coming of Divine Justice, called forth foot-upon-soil from the anguish of the truly oppressed. Listen to the words. The tempo is a battle march.
The lyrics are stunning.
BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC
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 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 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.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of 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.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth 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.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
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 live to make men free,
While God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.
UPDATE: May 13, 2023
Now we can say what they all knew back then but dared not breathe outside their circles: that our own government took out our President. This is now admitted and verified. The generational cloak of secrecy destroyed hundreds and hundreds of innocent lives.
BONUS
Absolutely Gorgeous
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