Recessional

¹God of our fathers, known of old,

²Lord of our far-flung battle-line,

³Beneath whose awful Hand we hold

⁴Dominion over palm and pine—

⁵Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

⁶Lest we forget—lest we forget!

⁷The tumult and the shouting dies;

⁸The Captains and the Kings depart:

⁹Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,

¹⁰An humble and a contrite heart.

¹¹Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

¹²Lest we forget—lest we forget!

¹³Far-called, our navies melt away;

¹⁴On dune and headland sinks the fire:

¹⁵Lo, all our pomp of yesterday

¹⁶Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!

¹⁷Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,

¹⁸Lest we forget—lest we forget!

¹⁹If, drunk with sight of power, we loose

²⁰Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,

²¹Such boastings as the Gentiles use,

²²Or lesser breeds without the Law—

²³Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

²⁴Lest we forget—lest we forget!

²⁵For heathen heart that puts her trust

²⁶In reeking tube and iron shard,

²⁷All valiant dust that builds on dust,

²⁸And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,

²⁹For frantic boast and foolish word—

³⁰Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!