This for the friends we had of old
Friends for a lifetime’s love and cheer.
This for the friends who come no more
Who cannot be among us here.
We’ll not forget, while we’re alive,
These hollowed dead, these deeds of fame.
Where they have gone, we will follow soon
Into the darkness and the flame.
Then we shall rise, our duty done,
Freed from all pain and sorrow here,
We’ll leave behind ambition’s sting
And keep alive our honor dear.
And they will stand beside us then
All whom we loved and hoped to see
And they shall sing, a glad AMEN
To cheer that final victory.
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spear–O clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire.
We shall not cease our faithful watch
Nor shall the sword sleep in our hand
Till we have gone beyond the stars
To join that fair immortal band.
–Elizabeth Moon
The last two verses of Elizabeth Moon’s poem are, um, lifted and altered from the English hymn “Jerusalem” with words by William Blake. That said, it’s an awesome performance of an awesome song. I heard it for the first time watching JFK’ funeral on TV, and have had an affection for it since. And did you know that Robert Heinlein wrote a verse for “those who journey into space”?
I did not know about the Heinlein extra verse. I will look it up. In Moon’s book, it is clearly acknowledged that the last two verses come from an “ancient” version of the hymn. A historian is surprised to hear it being sung in the (space) Fleet that many centuries later.
I always think that when we ask for those who travel by air,sea etc that we should add space.