once to god we owed it all,—

god alone;

bowing in eternal thrall,

giving, sacrificing all,

before the throne.

once we owed it to the king,—

served the crown;

life, and love, and everything,

in allegiance to the king,

laying down.

now we owe it to mankind,—

to our race;

fullest fruit of soul and mind,

heart and hand and all behind,

now in place.

loving-service, wide and free,

from the sod

up in varying degree,

through me and you—through you and me—

up to god!