“Watchman! What of the Night?”

“Watchman! Watchman! What of the night?
Watchman! What of the night?”
The morning comes, always comes
But comes through the darkest night!
Awful, oppressive night . . .

“Watchman! Watchman! What of God’s world?
Watchman! What of God’s world?”
It is embraced in the reconciling Word
But it is pierced by a poisonous sword
Terrible, poisonous sword . . .

“Watchman! Watchman! What of mankind?
Watchman! What of mankind?”
Unspeakable misery, empathy’ll consume you
Look at the Man of sorrows for strength
Your little, fragile strength . . .

“Watchman! Watchman! There is a power!
Watchman! The fallen power!”
He was the brightest, now the Darkest
Building a tower again that will fall
From which he’ll forever fall, and fall . . .

“Watchman! Watchman! The Crucified!
The power flees at the sight!”
He is the Brightest, became the darkest
From a cross to the Father Giver of Life
That Holy, Holy, Holy Life . . .

“Watchman! Watchman! The tears of the Bride?
Watchman! The tears of the Bride?”
For sin afflicts her outside and inside
But unity’ll come at the end of the night
Deadly, quickening end of the night . . .

“Watchman! Watchman! What of the fight?
Watchman! What of the fight?”
The victory comes, always comes
But comes through the bloodiest fight!
Dreadful, brutal fight . . .

“Watchman! Watchman! What of my cries?
Watchman! My many cries?”
Not one of them is lost in His eyes
Now rest with this thought in your mind
Your tired, weak, broken mind . . .

“Watchman! Watchman! I fear the night!”
Come up and sleep right here at my side
And see the morning that comes, always comes
But comes through the darkest night!
Awful, oppressive night . . .