"Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel" is a song that emphasizes the value of hard work, commitment, and community involvement. Here’s an analysis of its lyrics:
1. **Theme of Community and Work Ethic**: The song starts by acknowledging the world's need for dedicated individuals, who are ready to contribute actively. The “worker’s seal” is a metaphor for commitment and dedication to labor.
2. **Call to Action and Participation**: The chorus, “Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,” serves as a rousing call to action. It encourages active participation and a joyful approach to duties (“Do your duty with a heart full of song”). The line “We all have work; let no one shirk” suggests that everyone has a role to play and should not avoid their responsibilities.
3. **Church and Spirituality**: The second verse shifts the focus to the needs of the Church, implying a religious or spiritual dimension to the work. This verse emphasizes the importance of not just physical help, but also emotional and spiritual support (“hearts that know and feel”).
4. **Active Involvement Against Adversity**: The third verse touches on the concept of fighting against sin, indicating a moral or ethical struggle. The “fight with sin” can be interpreted as a metaphor for personal or communal challenges.
5. **Persistence and Vigilance**: The final verse speaks to the necessity of continuous effort and vigilance in all endeavors (“work and watch and fight and pray”). The repeated advice to “push ev’ry worthy work along” underscores the idea of perseverance and ongoing effort.
Overall, the song serves as an inspirational hymn, promoting the virtues of hard work, commitment, communal effort, and moral vigilance. It appeals to a sense of duty and encourages active participation in both secular and spiritual endeavors.
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