Bravo! brave old Teuton heart,
    Noble "Marshal Forwards!"
Bravo! every better part,--
Nature, Providence, and Art,--
    All are shouting Forwards;
If we gain, to gain the more,
Pressing on to things before,
    Ever marching forwards;
If we lose,-- by swift attack
Soon to win those losses back
    By the rule of -- Forwards!

Forwards; it's the way of life,
    Always urging forwards,--
Be it peace, or be it strife,
Stagnant-ripe, or tempest-rife,
    All is moving forwards;
Generations live and die,
Stars are journeying on the sky
    By the law of forwards;
Space and Time, and you, and I,
All -- but God's Eternity --
    Tend for ever forwards!

So, good youth, go on and win!
    Conquest lives in Forwards;
Go, if once you well begin,
Steering clear of self and sin,
    Forwards, ever forwards!
Never could the foe withstand
Honest Blucher's one command,
    Forwards, soldiers! forwards,--
Never shall the foe be met
Bold enough to front thee yet,
    If thy face is Forwards!