Be Strong

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift

Author: Maltbie D. Babcock (1901)
Published in 64 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle, face it, ’tis God’s gift.

2 Be strong!
Say not the days are evil— who’s to blame?
And fold the hands and acquiesce— O shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s Name.

3 Be strong!
It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day, how long;
Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.

Amen.

Source: The Hymnal #488

Author: Maltbie D. Babcock

Maltbie D. Babcock (b. Syracuse, NY, 1858; d. Naples, Italy, 1901) graduated from Syracuse University, New York, and Auburn Theological Seminary (now associated with Union Theological Seminary in New York) and became a Presbyterian minister. He served the Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. In Baltimore he was especially popular with students from Johns Hopkins University, but he ministered to people from all walks of life. Babcock wrote hymn texts and devotional, poems, some of which were published in The School Hymnal (1899). Bert Polman… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: We are not here to play, to dream, to drift
Title: Be Strong
Author: Maltbie D. Babcock (1901)
Meter: 2.10.10.10
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Be strong, be strong, tomorrow comes the song
Publication Date: 1901
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 64 of 64)
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A Hymnal for Joyous Youth #180

American Student Hymnal #d351

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Brotherhood Hymns #50

Chapel Conference Songbook #d7

Christian Hymnways #d11

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Christian Song #356

Christian Worship and Praise #d32

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Favorite Solos #223

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Fifty-Two Memory Hymns #23

Hymns and Songs of Christian Comradeship #97

Hymns for Creative Living #154

Audio

Hymns for Today #233

Hymns of the Widening Kingdom #19

Institute Hymns and Songs #d2

Inter-Church Hymnal #272

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Jehovah's Praise #33

Junior Youth Hymnal #d14

TextPage Scan

Methodist Hymn and Tune Book #387

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Premier Hymns #177

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Quartets and Choruses for Men #30

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Rose of Sharon Hymns #17

Singing Worship #62

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Social Hymns of Brotherhood and Aspiration #55

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Songs of Life #73

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Sunday School Voices, No.2 #121

The A. M. E. Zion Hymnal #320

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The Abingdon Hymnal #109

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The Abingdon Song Book #182

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The Century Hymnal #235

The Chapel Service Book #d12

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The Church School Hymnal for Youth #214

The Churches of God Hymnal. #d46

The Covenant Hymnal, authorized by the Swedish Evangelical Mission Covenant of America #d25

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #479

The Evangelical Church School Hymnal #d18

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The Fellowship Hymn Book #90

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The Fellowship Hymn Book #90

TextPage Scan

The Hymnal #488

Text

The Hymnal for Boys and Girls #61

The Hymnal for Youth #229

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The Hymnal of Praise #214

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The Hymnal #449

The Hymnal #293

The Junior Methodist Hymnal #d7

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The Methodist Hymnal (Text only edition) #407

The Methodist Hymnal #300

The Methodist Hymnal #300

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The Methodist Hymnal #407

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The Methodist Sunday School Hymnal #229

The New Church Hymnal #d36

The New Hymnal for American Youth #182

The New Hymnal for American Youth #182

The New Hymnal of Praise #d28

The Pilgrim Hymnal #253

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The Presbyterian Hymnal #269

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The Service Hymnal #381

The Student Hymnary #d28

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The Y.M.C.A. Hymnal #286

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Unity Song Selections #163

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Worship and Song #171

Worship and Song Edition B #ad25

TextAudioPage Scan

Worship and Song. (Rev. ed.) #169

Worship in Song #d25

TextAudioPage Scan

Youth Hymnal #36

Exclude 63 pre-1979 instances
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