The March of the Women

The March of the Women

słowa i muzyka: Ethel Smyth, 1910

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 this story; Dreams with their glory,
Lo they call, and glad is their word!
Loud and louder it swells, thunder of freedom, the voice of the World

Long, long, we in the Past; Cowered in dread and with doubt were riven*.
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 strife 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; Nought can ye win but by faith and daring.
On, on, that ye have done; But for the work of today 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.


Hymn ruchu sufrażystek w Wielkiej Brytanii. Utwór został skomponowany w 1910 r. przez Ethel Smyth i wykonany po raz pierwszy 23 marca 1911 roku w Royal Albert Hall, potem rozpowszechnił się w całej Wielkiej Brytanii.