There's a call in every village — there's a stir in every street,
There's a murmur in the distance as of countless marching feet;
On the highway sounds the echo of that voice uprisen high —
As it rings with quick rejoinder from the earth unto the sky;
There's a song flung to the breezes and a thousand men uprise;
To the ranks they add their numbers, sending up their eager cries;
There's a movement stealing forward; there's a quickening abroad —
Look and listen, feel it thrill you, humble children of the sod!
There's rebellion in the hovel, and the hunted look is gone —
There's a hope sprung in the shadow — there's a glimpse of coming dawn;
And the gloomy eyes have wakened and the soul once more is free;
There's a sweet song in each being in that mighty human sea;
And the waves are speeding shoreward to the goal of brotherhood,
There's a roar of many voices in the tempest of their mood,
They can feel it deep within them — they can hear it in the street
They can sense it rolling forward — they can hear its steady beat.
They can see the vision dawning, daily growing more replete —
For a murmur in the distance tells of marchers' counting feet;
In the coal mines grim and soddy, there's an answer to the foe;
Where the forges shriek and glimmer, where the slaves move to and fro.
There's a reason why these shoulders, once so narrow and so bent,
Now are straightened, now unburdened in the prison they are pent —
Once the eye looked outward hopeless, now the light is calm and clear;
There's an impulse in each body — there's a slowing of all fear.
There's an army in the battle — there are recruits falling in,
Not a day ebbs softly by us, but some soul steps forth to win;
From Atlantic to Pacific, o'er the seas in foreign lands —
Out of every nook and corner, brave toilers emerge in marching bands.
Would you help us, then be with us, up with courage in your face —
Throw aside your coward feeling — step not idly into place;
Lend your heart to our endeavor and we'll greet you as a friend,
We will fight if need be, and our hand we here extend.
There's a murmur in the distance as of countless marching feet;
On the highway sounds the echo of that voice uprisen high —
As it rings with quick rejoinder from the earth unto the sky;
There's a song flung to the breezes and a thousand men uprise;
To the ranks they add their numbers, sending up their eager cries;
There's a movement stealing forward; there's a quickening abroad —
Look and listen, feel it thrill you, humble children of the sod!
There's rebellion in the hovel, and the hunted look is gone —
There's a hope sprung in the shadow — there's a glimpse of coming dawn;
And the gloomy eyes have wakened and the soul once more is free;
There's a sweet song in each being in that mighty human sea;
And the waves are speeding shoreward to the goal of brotherhood,
There's a roar of many voices in the tempest of their mood,
They can feel it deep within them — they can hear it in the street
They can sense it rolling forward — they can hear its steady beat.
They can see the vision dawning, daily growing more replete —
For a murmur in the distance tells of marchers' counting feet;
In the coal mines grim and soddy, there's an answer to the foe;
Where the forges shriek and glimmer, where the slaves move to and fro.
There's a reason why these shoulders, once so narrow and so bent,
Now are straightened, now unburdened in the prison they are pent —
Once the eye looked outward hopeless, now the light is calm and clear;
There's an impulse in each body — there's a slowing of all fear.
There's an army in the battle — there are recruits falling in,
Not a day ebbs softly by us, but some soul steps forth to win;
From Atlantic to Pacific, o'er the seas in foreign lands —
Out of every nook and corner, brave toilers emerge in marching bands.
Would you help us, then be with us, up with courage in your face —
Throw aside your coward feeling — step not idly into place;
Lend your heart to our endeavor and we'll greet you as a friend,
We will fight if need be, and our hand we here extend.