Lyrics
Chorus (x2)
Awake, awake, awake
Put on thy strength O Zion
Awake, awake, awake
Put on thy strength
Verse 1 (x2)
(Oh)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Zion)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Oh)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Zion)
O Zion, put on thy strength
Verse 2 (x2)
(Oh)
Awake, awake, awake
(Zion)
Put on thy strength O Zion
(Oh)
Awake, awake, awake
(Guide thy strength)
Put on thy strength
Bridge
(Oh)
Shake, shake thyself
(Zion)
From the dust of the ground sit down
(Oh)
Shake, shake thyself
(Zion)
From the dust sit down
(Oh)
Shake, shake thyself
(Zion)
From the dust of the ground sit down
(Oh)
Shake, shake thyself
(Zion)
From the dust sit down
Verse 3
(Oh)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Zion)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Oh)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Zion)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Oh)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Zion)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Oh)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Zion)
O Zion, put on thy strength
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Interlude
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Zion
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Zion
Verse 4
O Zion, put on thy strength
O Zion, put on thy strength
O Zion, put on thy strength
O Zion, put on thy strength
Verse 5
(Oh)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Zion)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Oh)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Zion)
O Zion, put on thy strength
Chorus (x2)
Awake, awake, awake
Put on thy strength O Zion
Awake, awake, awake
Put on thy strength
Verse 6 (x2)
(Oh)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Zion)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Oh)
O Zion, put on thy strength
(Zion)
O Zion, put on thy strength
Interlude
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Zion
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Zion
Verse 7
(Take this shield of faith)
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
(And knock' em away)
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
(Take this shield of faith)
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
Oh, oh, oh, O Zion
(And knock 'em away)
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Zion
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Zion
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Zion
Oh, oh, oh, oh. Zion
Verse 8 (x2)
O Zion, put on thy strength
O Zion, put on thy strength
O Zion, put on thy strength
O Zion, put on thy strength
Outro
(Take the breastplate)
(Of righteousness)
(Take the breastplate)
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
This remix is a call and response chant that repeats a command taken from the prophet Isaiah: "Awake, awake, awake, put on thy strength O Zion". The lines are sung over and over, with background voices adding "Oh" and "Zion" between the main phrases, so the message builds through repetition rather than through new verses.
A second command follows, "Shake, shake thyself from the dust of the ground sit down", which echoes the same chapter's picture of a people lifting themselves out of defeat. Near the end the singers add spoken-style cues about taking the shield of faith and the breastplate of righteousness, language that matches Paul's description of spiritual armor in Ephesians.
The song gives no story or argument beyond these phrases. Its purpose is to rouse a congregation with a short, memorable charge to stand up in strength, and the repeated Zion refrain makes it easy for a crowd to join in.
Related Scripture
- Isaiah 52:1 The prophet tells Zion to awake and put on strength.
- Isaiah 52:2 Zion is told to shake herself from the dust.
- Ephesians 6:14-16 Paul lists the breastplate of righteousness and the shield of faith.