Lift up thine eyes, O watchman, the armies of the Lord
Are riding forth to conquest with buckler, shield and sword;
Glad tidings unto Zion, that valiant host shall ring,
And shout aloud, “Hosanna! The Lord, the Lord is King”;
And shout aloud, “Hosanna! The Lord, the Lord is King.”

What dost thou see, O watchman? What dost thou see afar?
“The gleaming of a banner, the rising of a Star.”
Then cry aloud, O watchman, with trumpet voice proclaim,
To all a full salvation, through Christ, the Savior’s Name,
To all a full salvation, through Christ, the Savior’s Name.

That radiant banner gleaming, that Star divinely bright,
Shall bear to every nation the blessèd Gospel light;
All kingdoms, crowns, and scepters, before the Cross shall fall,
And Christ shall reign triumphant, the King and Lord of all;
And Christ shall reign triumphant, the King and Lord of all.

Watchman, tell me, does the morning
Of fair Zion’s glory dawn;
Have the signs that mark His coming
Yet upon my pathway shone?
Pilgrim, yes, arise, look round thee,
Light is breaking in the skies;
Spurn the unbelief that bound thee,
Morning dawns, arise, arise!

See the glorious light ascending
Of the grand Sabbatic year,
Hark! the voices loud proclaiming
The Messiah’s kingdom near;
Watchman, yes; I see just yonder,
Canaan’s glorious heights arise;
Salem, too, appears in grandeur,
Tow’ring ’neath her sunlit skies.

Pilgrim, in that golden city,
Seated in the jasper throne,
Zion’s King, arrayed in beauty,
Reigns in peace from zone to zone;
There, on verdant hills and mountains,
Where the golden sunbeams play,
Purling streams, and crystal fountains,
Sparkle in th’eternal day.

Pilgrim, see, the light is beaming
Brighter still upon thy way;
Signs through all the earth are gleaming,
Omens of thy coming day,
When the last loud trumpet sounding,
Shall awake from earth and sea,
All the saints of God now sleeping,
Clad in immortality!

Watchman, lo, the land we’re nearing
With its vernal fruits and flowers!
On just yonder, O how cheering!
Bloom forever Eden flowers.
Hark, the choral strains are ringing,
Wafted on the balmy air!
See the millions! hear their singing!
Soon the pilgrims will be there.

Watchman, tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are.
Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s height,
See that glory beaming star.
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
Aught of joy or hope foretell?
Traveler, yes—it brings the day,
Promised day of Israel.

Watchman, tell us of the night;
Higher yet that star ascends.
Traveler, blessedness and light,
Peace and truth its course portends.
Watchman, will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveler, ages are its own;
See, it bursts o’er all the earth.

Watchman, tell us of the night,
For the morning seems to dawn.
Traveler, darkness takes its flight,
Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman, let thy wanderings cease;
Hie thee to thy quiet home.
Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace,
Lo! the Son of God is come!

Watchmen on the walls of Zion, what, O tell us, of the night?
Is the day-star now arising? Will the morn soon greet our sight?
O’er your vision shine there now some rays of light?
O’er your vision shine there now some rays of light?

Tell, O tell us, are the landmarks on our voyage all passèd by?
Are we nearing now the haven? Can we e’en the land descry?
Do we truly see the heavenly kingdom nigh?
Do we truly see the heavenly kingdom nigh?

Light is beaming, day is coming! Let us sound aloud the cry;
We behold the day-star rising, pure and bright in yonder sky!
Saints, be joyful; your redemption draweth nigh;
Saints, be joyful; your redemption draweth nigh.

We have found the chart and compass, and are sure the land is near;
Onward, onward we are hasting; soon the haven will appear;
Let your voices sound aloud your holy cheer;
Let your voices sound aloud your holy cheer.

Behold, the dawn is breaking,
In splendor is breaking,
When all the earth awaking
At Jesus’ Name shall bow;
When He, who once our sorrow bore,
Shall reign supreme from shore to shore,
Triumphant now and evermore
Our coming King of Glory.

Behold, the dawn is spreading,
In beauty is spreading:
The beams of love are shedding
The light of joy divine.
From Zion’s tower the watchmen cry,
Rejoice! rejoice! the time is nigh,
When we shall meet our Lord on high,
Our blessèd King of Glory.

O dawn of rapture, telling
Where music is swelling
Within our Savior’s dwelling
Above the stars that shine;
Where we shall breathe the fragrant air
Of yonder clime, serene and fair,
And all His faithful ones shall wear
A promised crown of glory.