Come, Join Our Army

Grade Level 4

Year: 2026

Composer: Henry Clay Work, arr. Bruce Broughton

Program Notes:

William J. Pearson, who wrote the words to "Come, Join Our Army," joined The Salvation Army in 1874 when it was still known as The Christian Mission. He had been a local preacher and evangelist before moving to London. Pearson was a prolific composer of early Salvation Army songs, contributing often to The Musical Salvationist. The words are familiarly used with the American Civil War tune "Ring the Bell, Watchman" favored by the Union and composed in 1865 by Henry Clay Work, a well-known American songwriter.