"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." — G.K. Chesterton.
Verse 1: Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Verse 2: O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked’st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Verse 3: Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Verse 4: O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
And tossing a sailor’s dixie cup hat to the other miltary branches here are some alternate verses.
Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces in the sky.
Be with them always in the air,
In darkening storms or sunlight fair;
Oh, hear us when we lift our prayer,
For those in peril in the air!
Eternal Father, grant, we pray,
To all Marines, both night and day,
The courage, honor, strength, and skill
Their land to serve, thy law fulfill;
Be thou the shield forevermore
From every peril to the Corps.
Eternal Father, Lord of hosts,
Watch o’er the men who guard our coasts.
Protect them from the raging seas
And give them light and life and peace.
Grant them from thy great throne above
The shield and shelter of thy love.
God of all Nations! Sovereign Lord!
In Thy dread name we draw the sword,
We lift the Starry Flag on high,
That fills with light our stormy sky.
5 comments
This is one of my favorite hymns. I first memorized it at the Boot Camp Chapel in San Diego. The Navy Academy Chorus also signs a great version of this as well as other hymns.
I love “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”.
Here’s another favorite:
Here’s health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever gaze on Heaven’s scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.
As I recall, Robert A. Heinlein wrote a verse for the Navy Anthem as well:
Almighty ruler of the all
Whose power extends to great and small,
Who guides the stars with steadfast law,
Whose least creation fills with awe –
Oh grant Thy mercy and Thy grace
To those who venture into space.
This hymn, the original four verses, will be the only hymn at my funeral. The rest will be chant, of course.
I remember first learning it, as an agnostic, in Sousa’s Bluejacket Chior at Great Lakes.
Even then it sent chills through my spine.
Eternal Father Strong to Save was the recessional at my wedding (my (now ex-)husband was Navy). It made all the men in the crowd sing along a little, and cry a little. It was GREAT.