Lyrics
Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne.
We're marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We're marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
The sorrows of the mind
Be banished from the place;
Religion never was designed
To make our pleasures less.
Let those refuse to sing,
Who never knew our God;
But children of the heav'nly King
May speak their joys abroad.
The men of grace have found
Glory begun below;
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow.
The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav'nly fields,
Or walk the golden streets.
Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We're marching through Immanuel's ground
To fairer worlds on high.
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Meaning & Inspiration
“We’re Marching to Zion” presents Christian life as a joyful procession toward the city of God. Each stanza contrasts sorrow with worship, calling those who love the Lord to make their gladness known. Zion is both a present source of spiritual blessing and the destination ahead, so hope begins on earth even while the singers look toward heavenly fulfillment.
Hebrews 12:22 directly supports the hymns central image by describing believers as having come to Mount Zion and the city of the living God. Revelation 21:2 adds the vision of the holy city prepared by God, while Isaiah 35:10 echoes the closing movement from tears and sorrow into everlasting joy. The lyrics do not ignore grief; they place it within a larger hope in which faith already bears fruit and sorrow will finally end. Its shared voice, recurring refrain, and forward motion make it a classic hymn of communal praise and confident expectation.
Related Scripture
- Hebrews 12:22 The verse identifies Mount Zion with the city of the living God and heavenly Jerusalem.
- Revelation 21:2 John sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God.
- Isaiah 35:10 The redeemed enter Zion with singing as sorrow and sighing flee away.