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Hail the hero workers of the mighty past

Representative Text

1 Hail the hero workers,
Of the mighty past!
They whose labor builded
All the things that last;
Thoughts of wisest meaning,
Deeds of noblest right,
Patient toil in weakness,
Battle in the night;
Hail, then, noble workers,
Builders of the past,
All whose lives have blest us
With the gains that last.

2 Hail ye, hero workers!
Who today do hear
Duty’s myriad voices
Sounding high and clear;
Ye who quick responding,
Haste ye to your task,
Be it grand or simple,
Ye forget to ask;
Hail ye, noble workers,
Builders of today,
Who life’s treasure gather
That shall last alway!

3 Hail ye, hero workers!
Ye who yet shall come,
When to this world’s calling
All our lips are dumb!
Ye shall build more nobly
If our work be true
As we pass life’s treasure
On from old to new.
Hail ye, then, all workers,
Of all lands and time,
One brave band of heroes,
With one task sublime.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #11890

Author: Anna Garlin Spencer

Spencer, Anna Garlin (Attleboro, Massachusetts, April 17, 1851--February 12, 1931, New York). Married Rev. William H. Spencer. She was ordained as a Unitarian minister, and was a lecturer and author of books on social problems. In 1896 in her Orders of Service for Public Worship she included her song entitled "The Marching Song of Workers," beginning "Hail the hero workers of the mighty past" set to ST. GERTRUDE. In was included in Hymns of the United Church, 1924, in Songs of Work and Worship, and in Hymns of the Spirit, 1937. --Henry Wilder Foote, DNAH Archives Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Hail the hero workers of the mighty past
Author: Anna Garlin Spencer
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #11890
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #11890

Include 18 pre-1979 instances
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