Stand Up! --

Stand Up! --

Original Text
D. H. Lawrence, Pansies: Poems (London: Martin Secker, 1929): 152-53. PR 6023 A93P3 1929 Robarts Library
2It's a little late for that.
3Stand up for justice and a jolly life.
4I'll hold your hat.
5Stand up, stand up for justice,
6ye swindled little blokes!
7Stand up and do some punching,
8give 'em a few hard pokes.
9Stand up for jolly justice
10you haven't got much to lose:
11a job you don't like and a scanty chance
12for a dreary little booze.
13Stand up for something different,
14and have a little fun
15fighting for something worth fighting for
16before you've done.
17Stand up for a new arrangement
18for a chance of life all round,
19for freedom, and the fun of living
20bust in, and hold the ground!

Notes

1] Mocking the opening of "Soldiers of the Cross" by George Duffield, Jr. (1818-1888), usually sung to music composed by George J. Webb (from http://hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh514.sht):
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
his army shall he lead,
till every foe is vanquished,
and Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict,
in this his glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger,
and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next the victor's song.
To those who vanquish evil
a crown of life shall be;
they with the King of Glory
shall reign eternally.

Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1929
Publication Notes
See Roberts A47
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 2000.
Rhyme