Hymn: Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel

The title for my blog entry on work came from a popular hymn we sing at church.  The lyrics are specifically about the work of spread the good news of the gospel, but I think can be equally applied to the ideas I expressed about all kinds of work.

I noticed that the musical direction for how to sing this hymn is noted as "energetically."  I love that term and think it's perfect for both the hymn and as an attitude toward work in general.  I think my next entry in this series will be about the word and idea of "energy."

At any rate, here are the lyrics to the hymn "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel" as food for though on work today.

***

Energetically

1. The world has need of willing men
Who wear the worker’s seal.
Come, help the good work move along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

[Chorus]
Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

2. The Church has need of helping hands,
And hearts that know and feel.
The work to do is here for you;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

3. Then don’t stand idly looking on;
The fight with sin is real.
It will be long but must go on;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

4. Then work and watch and fight and pray
With all your might and zeal.
Push ev’ry worthy work along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Text and music: Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909