Close your eyes and dance with me
Down the God-hewn river of time
Watch with me, come and see
Gaze on each face
Passing by as if in line

What I wouldn’t give to have seen
This land, my land,
My America, so pristine
Waiting to be settled, to be loved
What I wouldn’t do to stand

Side by side with those first few
Those brave ones who gazed
Wonderingly, and I wonder if they knew

Close your eyes and dance with me Down the God-hewn river of time Watch with me, come and see Gaze on each face Passing by as if in line What I wouldn’t give to have seen This land, my land, My America, so pristine Waiting to be settled, to be loved What I wouldn’t do to stand Side by side with those first few Those brave ones who gazed Wonderingly, and I wonder if they knew Their impact, their contribution The banner of hope they raised So dance along the lines Of our Heaven-blessed history The history of this land of yours and mine Sing the songs of our forefathers Blow the dust off of this so-called mystery Remember the first white foot that stood here Remember how they paused, in holy awe, And as others joined, hear their prayers Echoing among cedar pillars and alters of virgin stone Can you picture what they saw? And as they raise a cross of Lashed-together wooden beams Listen to the coiling winds of times past Can you hear their prayers; rising above the sound of the waves? The creaking of the ships’ seams? Now, Americans, lift your voices Plead with me for our inheritance of grace Now is the time to make your choices Don’t give way to those who would take this from us Those who would kick dust in our Father’s face Now, now for revival! Show the world God’s hand in the story Stand up for our nation’s survival Follow our forebear’s example of godliness Pray that we may regain our former glory Thus, just as they stood at the edge of a New World, So we also pause on the brink of our quest And just as they did, as waves around their feet curled We lift our hands in grateful, humble prayer To the One who sees all history and knows what is best.