Songs of Sunrise

When will the weary night be over? 
When will the laggard sun arise? 
Behold the east aglow at his coming,
And soon will his radiance blind our eyes.
In fear we waited, in hope we shall meet him. 
He bursts through the clouds! up, up and greet him.

Long was the grieving, black the darkness. 
Heavy the silence of the night; 
For this the day shall fill you with gladness, 
For this shall you sing in your delight.
What though we suffered, and wept in our sorrow. 
'Tis gone with the night, we hail the morrow!

Sisters, the poor and friendless need you, 
Seek you where other help has failed; 
Your faithful hands shall steer through the tempest, 
To wide sunlit oceans yet unsailed.
Bring balm and healing to hearts that are breaking, 
And point to the sky where hope is waking.

What of the friends who fought beside us, 
Gone from us never to return? 
Beyond the stars their bright spirits watch us, 
And lend us the fire where with we burn.
They bore our burden, they help us to bear it, 
And Victory won will know and share it!
Lost to our vision yet are they here, 
Whispering softly, softly, 
Lo dawn is near, dawn is near.

Shout, shout, up with your song!
Cry with the wind, for the dawn is breaking:
March, march, swing you along,
Wide blows our banner, and hope is waking.
Song with its story, dreams with their glory
Lo! They call, and glad is their word!
Louder and louder it swells.
Thunder of freedom, the voice of the Lord!

Long, long -- we in the past
Cowered in dread from the light of heaven,
Strong, strong -- stand we at last,
Fearless in faith and with sight new given.
Strength with its beauty, Life with its duty,
(Hear the voice, oh hear and obey!)
These, these -- beckon us on!
Open your eyes to the blaze of day.

Comrades -- ye who have dared
First in the battle to strive and sorrow!
Scorned, spurned -- nought have ye cared,
Raising your eyes to a wider morrow.
Ways that are weary, days that are dreary,
Toil and pain by faith ye have borne;
Hail, hail -- victors ye stand,
Wearing the wreath that the brave have worn.

Life, strife -- these two are one,
Naught can ye win but by faith and daring.
On, on -- that ye have done
But for the work of to-day preparing.
Firm in reliance, laugh a defiance,
(Laugh in hope, for sure is the end),
March, march -- many as one,
Shoulder to shoulder and friend to friend.