We Stand for God

This triumphal work was of the official hymn of the Holy Name Society in Australia and New Zealand (ref) and it is likely that the 3rd verse, with a reference to the Southern Cross, was written for this.  It has been used as a school song in various places around the world, sometimes with an alternative, less militaristic, chorus.

The words were written by Irish Dominican J.P. O'Daly OP (d May 1940) who worked in Rome (verses 1 and 2 and the chorus) and John O'Brien, 1878-1953 (verse 3).

With irregular meter, it is set to the tune, NOI VOGLIAM DIO, a traditional Italian folk melody, originally with Marian lyrics.

It was of the official hymn of the Holy Name Society in Australia and New Zealand (ref) and it is likely that the 3rd verse, with a reference to the Southern Cross, was written for this.  It has been used as a school song in various places around the world, sometimes with an alternative, less militaristic, chorus.


Downloads

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Examples

Men's choir with brass band:


Choir with piano:


Singer with marching band backing:


Singer, unaccompanied:


Choir with guitar and keyboard:


Instrumental - electronic organ:


Lyrics

We stand for God and for his glory,
The Lord supreme and God of all;
Against his foes we raise his standard;
Around the cross we hear his call.

Chorus
Strengthen our faith, Redeemer;
Guard us when danger is nigh;
To thee we pledge our lives and service,
For God we live , for God we’ll die:
To thee we pledge our lives and service,
For God we live, for God we die.

We stand for God! Jesus our master
Has died for us with love untold;
His law divine and truth unchanging
In this our land their place must hold.

We stand for God! in ages olden
He placed “the Cross” our stars beside;
O may our land, gracious and golden,
Be faithful to the Crucified.


Alternative chorus:

Strengthen our faith, Redeemer;
Guard us when danger is nigh;
To thee we pledge our lives and service,
Strong in a faith that ne'er shall die,

To thee we pledge our lives and service,
Strong in a faith that ne'er shall die.

ABC Notation:

X:1
T:We Stand for God
C:Words:  J.P. O'Daly OP (d May 1940) John O'Brien (1878-1953) (verse 3)
C:Tune: NOI VOGLIAM DIO - traditional Italian
O:Italy
Z:abc-transcription www.GodSongs.net
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Fmaj
C D>E  | F3 z A2 F>C | A2 F2-FF G>A | B2 A2 G2 F2  | G3 z2 C D>E |
F3 z A2 F>C | A2 F2-FF E>F | G2 zG A2 =B2 | c6 z2 |
"^Chorus"A2 A>G A2 c2 | c3 z B3 z     | B2 B>A B2 d>c | A3 z2 A A>B   |
c2 z B A2 c2 | c2 B2 z G A>B | c3 A   G2 F2  | c2 z2 z A B>c |
d4   z G A>B | d2 c2 z F G>A | c2 zc  c2 c2  | F4 z4 ]

Ref:  What is ABC

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KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
We stand for God and for his glory,
The Lord supreme and God of all;
Against his foes we raise his standard;
Around the cross we hear his call.

Chorus
Strengthen our faith, Redeemer;
Guard us when danger is nigh;
To thee we pledge our lives and service,
For God we live , for God we’ll die:
To thee we pledge our lives and service,
For God we live, for God we die.

We stand for God! Jesus our master
Has died for us with love untold;
His law divine and truth unchanging
In this our land their place must hold.

We stand for God! in ages olden
He placed “the Cross” our stars beside;
O may our land, gracious and golden,
Be faithful to the Crucified.


Alternative chorus:

Strengthen our faith, Redeemer;
Guard us when danger is nigh;
To thee we pledge our lives and service,
Strong in a faith that ne'er shall die,

To thee we pledge our lives and service,
Strong in a faith that ne'er shall die.

5 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. The verses should read:

    "... O may our land, gracious and golden,
    Be faithful to the Crucified, Risen Lord, Jesus."

    Comment posted by Rhonda A. B. Henry-Ramos

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Rhonda, was this version published anywhere? I'm not quite sure how that many words would fit with the tune.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Rhonda - I've never heard that version, and it makes no sense with the music (or the rhyme scheme). (Unless it were added in the lower voices while the upper ones sustain the last syllable of "Crucified" ... but still, it's definitely not part of the original!

    One verse that I have seen in most editions comes after the first verse:
    "We stand for God! let us be loyal,
    Our love proclaim with every breath;
    To Christ the King and Lord of Lords
    We will be faithful unto death!" Chorus as above, of course... I admit it's missing a syllable at the end of the third line, so "Lords" has to be extended over two notes, but nonetheless, I've heard it as part of the hymn both in New Zealand and the States, so it must be pretty well known.

    ReplyDelete