(_To be sung to the tune of_ THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB _with indicated
instruments_.)
[Sidenote: Bass drums]
Booth led boldly with his big bass drum.
_Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?_
The saints smiled gravely, and they said, "He's come,"
_Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?_
Walking lepers followed, rank on rank,
Lurching bravos from the ditches dank,
Drabs from the alleyways and drug-fiends pale--
Minds still passion-ridden, soul-powers frail!
Vermin-eaten saints with mouldy breath,
Unwashed legions with the ways of death--
_Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?_
Every slum had sent its half-a-score
The round world over--Booth had groaned for more.
Every banner that the wide world flies
[Sidenote: Banjo]
Bloomed with glory and transcendent dyes.
Big-voiced lasses made their banjos bang!
Tranced, fanatical, they shrieked and sang,
_Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?_
Hallelujah! It was queer to see
Bull-necked convicts with that land make free!
Loons with bazoos blowing blare, blare, blare--
On, on, upward through the golden air.
_Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?_
[Sidenote: Bass drums slower and softer]
Booth died blind, and still by faith he trod,
Eyes still dazzled by the ways of God.
Booth led boldly and he looked the chief:
Eagle countenance in sharp relief,
Beard a-flying, air of high command
Unabated in that holy land.
[Sidenote: Flutes]
Jesus came from out the Court-House door,
Stretched his hands above the passing poor.
Booth saw not, but led his queer ones there
Round and round the mighty Court-House square.
Yet in an instant all that blear review
Marched on spotless, clad in raiment new.
The lame were straightened, withered limbs uncurled
And blind eyes opened on a new sweet world.
[Sidenote: Bass drums louder and faster]
Drabs and vixens in a flash made whole!
Gone was the weasel-head, the snout, the jowl;
Sages and sibyls now, and athletes clean.
Rulers of empires, and of forests green!
[Sidenote: Grand Chorus--tambourines--all instruments in full blast]
The hosts were sandalled and their wings were fire--
_Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?_
But their noise played havoc with the angel-choir.
_Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?_
Oh, shout Salvation! it was good to see
Kings and princes by the Lamb set free.
The banjos rattled, and the tambourines
Jing-jing-jingled in the hands of queens!
[Sidenote: Reverently sung--no instruments]
And when Booth halted by the curb for prayer
He saw his Master through the flag-filled air.
Christ came gently with a robe and crown
For Booth the soldier while the throng knelt down.
He saw King Jesus--they were face to face,
And he knelt a-weeping in that holy place.
_Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?_
_Nicholas Vachel Lindsay_