From the As One Voice digital archive we find this recent song by Erica Marshall. She has written new words to the tune NOI VOGLIAM DIO, an Italian folk song, that has been associated with a text called “We Stand for God”. She explains that we have moved on from the confrontational theology of the old words and kept the verve of the tune but with more acceptable lyrics.
The sheet music is available at As One Voice to purchase.
Sing along with my backing to learn the song:
1 O God of life, we come before you.
We bless your name, we sing your praise.
In ev’ry trial, trouble and turmoil,
You are the shelter of our days.
Refrain
Strengthen and lead us forward.
Guide us to walk in your light.
To bring the Gospel ever closer,
Rejoicing ever in your might.
May we be Christ to all the nations,
The face of love to shine so bright.
2 O god of life, we go before you
To bless your name and sing your praise,
To spread the Word: peace, love and mercy
For all who seek to walk your ways.
Text © 2019 Erica Marshall
This is the old text:
1 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.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’ll die.2 We stand for God! Jesus our master
Has died to save with love untold;
His law divine and truth unchanging
In this our land their place must hold.3 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.J.P. O’Daly, O.P., last verse John O’Brien, 1878-1953