The world round over. (Booth had groaned for more.)
Ev'ry banner that the wide world flies,
Bloomed with glory and transcendent dyes.
Big voiced lassies made their banjoes bang,
Tranced, fanatical they shrieked and sang;
"Are you? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?"
Hallelujah! It was queer to see
Bull necked convicts with that land made free.
Loons with trumpets blow'd a blare, blare, blare,
On, on, upward thro' the golden air!
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)
Eyes still dazzled by the ways of God!
Booth led boldly and he look'd the chief;
Eagle countenance in sharp relief,
Beard a-flying, air of high command
Unabated in that holy land.
Stretched His hands above the passing poor.
Booth saw not, but led his queer ones
Round and round the mighty courthouse square.
Yet! in an instant all that blear review
Marched on spotless, clad in raiment new.
The lame were straightened, withered limbs uncurled,
And blind eyes opened on a new sweet world.
Gone was the weasel head, the snout, the jowel!
Sages and sibyls now, and athletes clean,
Rulers of empires and of forests green!
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)
But their noise play'd havoc with the angel choir,
(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?)
Oh shout Salvation!
It was good to see Kings and Princes by the Lamb set free.
The banjos rattled and the tambourines
Jingjing jingl'd in the hands of Queens.
He saw his Master thro' the flag fill'd air.
Christ came gently with a robe and crown
For Booth the soldier, while the throng knelt down.
He saw King Jesus; they were face to face,
And he knelt a-weeping in that holy place.
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?