Be Strong

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We are not here to play, to dream, to drift

Author: Maltbie D. Babcock (1901)
Published in 62 hymnals

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Representative Text

1 Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle, face it, ’tis God’s gift.

2 Be strong!
Say not the days are evil— who’s to blame?
And fold the hands and acquiesce— O shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s Name.

3 Be strong!
It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day, how long;
Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.

Amen.

Source: The Hymnal #488

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Author: Maltbie D. Babcock

Maltbie D. Babcock (b. Syracuse, NY, 1858; d. Naples, Italy, 1901) graduated from Syracuse University, New York, and Auburn Theological Seminary (now associated with Union Theological Seminary in New York) and became a Presbyterian minister. He served the Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. In Baltimore he was especially popular with students from Johns Hopkins University, but he ministered to people from all walks of life. Babcock wrote hymn texts and devotional, poems, some of which were published in The School Hymnal (1899). Bert Polman… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	We are not here to play, to dream, to drift
Title:	Be Strong
Author:	Maltbie D. Babcock (1901)
Meter:	2.10.10.10
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Be strong, be strong, tomorrow comes the song
Copyright:	Public Domain