Hold the Fort

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Ho, my comrades! see the signal, Waving in the sky!

Author: P. P. Bliss (1870)
Tune: [Ho, my comrades, see the signal] (Bliss)
Published in 142 hymnals

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Representative Text

1. Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

Refrain:
“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”

2. See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on,
Mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone!

3. See the glorious banner waving, Hear the trumpet blow!
In our Leader’s Name we triumph over every foe.

4. Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near,
Onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer!

Source: 50 Favorites #21

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Author: P. P. Bliss

Philip P. Bliss (b. Clearfield County, PA, 1838; d. Ashtabula, OH, 1876) left home as a young boy to make a living by working on farms and in lumber camps, all while trying to continue his schooling. He was converted at a revival meeting at age twelve. Bliss became an itinerant music teacher, making house calls on horseback during the winter, and during the summer attending the Normal Academy of Music in Genesco, New York. His first song was published in 1864, and in 1868 Dwight L. Moody advised him to become a singing evangelist. For the last two years of his life Bliss traveled with Major D. W. Whittle and led the music at revival meetings in the Midwest and Southern United States. Bliss and Ira D. Sankey published a popular series of hym… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Ho, my comrades! see the signal, Waving in the sky!
Title:	Hold the Fort
Author:	P. P. Bliss (1870)
Meter:	8.5.8.5 with refrain
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Hold the fort, for I am coming
Notes:	Arabic translation: See "إن خصم النفس أشه"> by سليم كساب; French translation: See "Voyez l'étendard céleste" by Ruben Saillens; German translations: See "Brüder, seht die Bundesfahne" by Ernst Gebhardt, "Brüder, seht die Feuerzeichen" by P. A. Mölling, "Kampfgenossen seht das zeichen" by H. E. Schneider, "Mut ihr Brüder, Schaut die Zelchen", "Seht, ihr nicht die banner glänzen" by Phillip Bickel, "Streiter schart euch um das banner"; Hungarian translation: See "Fel baratim draga Jezus zaszalaja alatt"; Spanish translation: See "O soldados en los cielos"; Swahili translation: See "Loo! Bendera imetwekwa"
Copyright:	Public Domain