Battle hymn of the republic - Julia W. Howe

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 21 April 2005, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

1. MY EYES WITNESS FINISH LORD COME WITH GLORY.
HAPPEN DESTROY, BLOOD SPREAD LIKE WINE FROM GRAPES CRUSHED.
HE DRAW-SWORD~SWORD-STRIKE FAST IDEA~LIKE LIGHTNING, POWER STRONG.
HIS TRUTH MARCH+ CONTINUE+.
(repeat 3 times) ||: (<) GLORY, (>) GLORY, HALLELUJAH! :||
HIS TRUTH MARCH+ CONTINUE+.

2. ME SEE HIS-rt,hi SPIRIT SHOW-UP FIRE IN ONE-HUNDRED ARMY CAMP.
THEY-rt BUILD ALTAR HONOR HIM DURING EVENING WET.
HIS HOLY JUDGMENT CLEAR WHEN ME WATCH THEIR-rt LAMP BURN.
HIS DAY MARCH+ CONTINUE+.
(repeat 3 times) ||: (<) GLORY, (>) GLORY, HALLELUJAH! :||
HIS TRUTH MARCH+ CONTINUE+.

3. ME READ GOSPEL POWERFUL, ITS WORD+ HARD LIKE METAL.
GOD HIS ENEMY BOTHER-rt,hi, HE REVENGE AGAINST THEM-lf WILL.
JESUS, BORN FROM MARY, DESTROY (2h)#ALL BAD* CAN.
WHY? GOD MARCH+ CONTINUE+.
(repeat 3 times) ||: (<) GLORY, (>) GLORY, HALLELUJAH! :||
HIS TRUTH MARCH+ CONTINUE+.

4. HE BLOW-TRUMPET ANNOUNCE WAR BEGIN, RETREAT FORBIDDEN NOW.
HE FILTER PEOPLE ENTER HEAVEN SIT THRONE DECIDE.
ME REALLY-WANT SOUL RESPOND SUPPORT GOD HIS GOAL.
OUR GOD MARCH+ CONTINUE+.
(repeat 3 times) ||: (<) GLORY, (>) GLORY, HALLELUJAH! :||
HIS TRUTH MARCH+ CONTINUE+.

5. CHRIST BORN FAR-AWAY, BEAUTIFUL FLOWER THEREABOUTS.
INSIDE-SELF HIS+-lf,hi GLORY HELP-us US CHANGE BETTER CAN.
PARALLEL DIE MAKE US HOLY, WE LIVE MAKE PEOPLE FREE.
WHILE GOD MARCH+ CONTINUE+.
(repeat 3 times) ||: (<) GLORY, (>) GLORY, HALLELUJAH! :||
HIS TRUTH MARCH+ CONTINUE+.

6. HE COME IDEA~LIKE GLORY HAPPEN DAWN SHINE-ON OCEAN.
(<) HE WISE TEACH"each"-lf MIGHTY, (>) HE HONOR"all"-rt PEOPLE BRAVE.
FINISH, WORLD HE TAKE-UP CONTROL, MEAN DEVIL BECOME HIS SLAVE.
OUR GOD MARCH+ CONTINUE+.
(repeat 3 times) ||: (<) GLORY, (>) GLORY, HALLELUJAH! :||
HIS TRUTH MARCH+ CONTINUE+.


Notes: WITNESS - [1] touches under eye while head moves down.

GLORY - (2h)[5], POs><, FOs away from signer, DH which is on top wiggles fingers while ascending. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Glory.

CRUSHED - (2h)[5] put palm against palm with FTs facing in opposite directions, then the hands twist with the palms still in contact until the FTs are at right angles to each other. This is similar to CHEESE, but it is a single movement for CRUSHED, not a double one as in CHEESE. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Crush.

DRAW-SWORD~SWORD-STRIKE - NDH [C] acts as a sheath at the waist and DH [S] pulls out the sword and strikes at the air with it.

IDEA~LIKE - a blending where IDEA has a [Y] instead of an [I] in anticipation of LIKE which - signed smoothly right afterwards.

MARCH - (2h)[4] bend at wrist and straighten out hands as if marching forward. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: March.

The signs between "||:" and ":||" are to be repeated.

HALLELUJAH! - CLAP-HANDS~CELEBRATE + open hands into (2h)[5] while lifting.

ALTAR - (2h)[S], POs down, FOs ><, strike the whole length of the forearms together like TABLE.

LAMP - [8] flicks finger at chin.

GOSPEL - G-NEW. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Gospel - 2.

POWERFUL - [C] or [5:] brings FTs rapidly to the ND biceps.

MARY - [M] touches NDS temple, is drawn across forehead, and descends. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Mary - 1.

(2h)#ALL - (2h)[A], POs ><, FOs up, are held at shoulder height and move away while opening to (2h)[L].

BLOW-TRUMPET - The ancient valveless trumpet is meant: (2h)[S], are held DH in front of NDH at mouth, and expand cheeks moving head forward.

RETREAT - ESCAPE.

FILTER - (2h)[4], POs towards, DH moves slightly against NDH (either in a circle or from side to side) as if filtering something. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - filter.

SIT THRONE - SIT + (2h)[B:], POs down, FOs away, behave as if they were on the arms of a throne.

REALLY-WANT - the sign WANT but shaken back and forth to show intensity.

FAR-AWAY - [1], twists while moving away with tongue shuttling from side to side. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Far.

THEREABOUTS - [5], PO down, FO away, circles horizontally.

INSIDE-SELF - The FT of [C] are held against the chest and stuff the FT of [O^] into the [C] twice.

PARALLEL - (2h)[1], POs down, FOs away, move forward. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Parallel.

HOLY - H-CLEAN. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: Holy - 1.

WHILE - (2h)[1], POs down, FOs away, move forward. For a QuickTime file of this sign, see ASL Pro: While.

SHINE-ON - [O^] is held high PO > signer; hands open to [5^] while moving > signer.

MIGHTY - (2h)[S], POs > back of signer, FOs up, are held at NDS and fists descend, then repeat at DS.

TAKE-UP - (2h)[5:], POs away, FOs up, move down quickly and close to (2h)[S], POs down, FOs away, as if grabbing hold of something, then hands ascend.

Lyrics:

1. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

2. I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on.

3. I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
"As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal";
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on.

4. He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet;
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

5. In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free;
[originally �let us die to make men free]
While God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on.

6. He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave;
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear the music (without words), go to Hymns, gospel songs & spirituals: B and click on either "Battlehymn."

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