Never Look Back

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Put your hand to the plow and go straight ahead

Author: Johnson Oatman
Tune: [Put your hand to the plow and go straight ahead]
Published in 3 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Put your hand to the plow and go straight ahead,
But never, never look back!
For you cannot again live the years that are fled,
So never, never look back.
Before you is work for the Crucified One;
Before you is rest when your day’s work is done;
Before you a crown, when the race you have run,
So never, never look back.

Refrain:
Never, no, never look back!
Never, no, never look back!
If a crown you would wear,
There’s a cross you must bear,
So never, never look back.

2 Put your hand to the plow, the goal is in sight,—
But never, never look back!
You must trust in the Lord, and be true to the right,
So never, never look back.
Behind is the past, with its sin and despair;
Behind are the years, filled with sorrow and care;
Before you is life in a home bright and fair,
So never, never look back. [Refrain]

3 Put your hand to the plow, there’s much to be done,
But never, never look back!
For the work of the Master is only begun,
So never, never look back.
Before you are tears you may help wipe away;
Before you are hearts filled with doubt and dismay;
Go, point them to Jesus and help on the way,
But never, never look back. [Refrain]

Source: Progressive Sunday School Songs #148

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Author: Johnson Oatman

Johnson Oatman, Jr., son of Johnson and Rachel Ann Oatman, was born near Medford, N. J., April 21, 1856. His father was an excellent singer, and it always delighted the son to sit by his side and hear him sing the songs of the church. Outside of the usual time spent in the public schools, Mr. Oatman received his education at Herbert's Academy, Princetown, N. J., and the New Jersey Collegiate Institute, Bordentown, N. J. At the age of nineteen he joined the M.E. Church, and a few years later he was granted a license to preach the Gospel, and still later he was regularly ordained by Bishop Merrill. However, Mr. Oatman only serves as a local preacher. For many years he was engaged with his father in the mercantile business at Lumberton… Go to person page >

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