Unmindful of names or distinctions they came,
For freemen like brothers agree;
With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued,
And their temple was LIBERTY TREE.
Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old,
Their bread in contentment they ate,
Unvexed with the troubles of silver and gold,
The cares of the grand and the great.
With timber and tar they old England supplied,
And supported her power on the sea;
Her battles they fought, without getting a groat,
For the honour of LIBERTY TREE.
But hear, oh, ye swains, ('tis a tale most profane,)
How all the tyrannical powers,
King, commons, and lords, are uniting amain,
To cut down this guardian of ours!
From the east to the west blow the trumpet to arms!
Through the land let the sound of it flee;
Let the far and the near all unite, with a cheer,
In defence of our LIBERTY TREE.
DESTRUCTION OF THE TEA, 1774.
Tune-" Hosier's Ghost."
As near beauteous Boston lying
On the gently swelling flood,
Without jack or pendant flying,
Three ill-fated tea-ships rode;
Just as glorious Sol was setting,
On the wharf a numerous crew,
Sons of Freedom, fear forgetting,
Suddenly appeared in view.
Armed with hammer, axe, and chisels,
Weapons new for warlike deed,
Towards the herbage-freighted vessels
They approached with dreadful speed.
O'er their heads, in lofty mid-sky,
Three bright angel-forms were seen;
This was Hampden, that was Sidney,
With fair Liberty between.
"Soon," they cried, "your foes you'll banish,
Soon the triumph shall be won;
Scarce shall setting Phoebus vanish,
Ere the deathless deed be done."
Quick as thought the ships were boarded,
Hatches burst and chests display'd;
Axes, hammers help afforded;
What a glorious crash they made!
Squash into the deep descended
Cursed weed of China's coast;
Thus at once our fears were ended!
British rights shall ne'er be lost.
Captains! once more hoist your streamers,
Spread your sails, and plough the wave!
Tell your masters they were dreamers
When they thought to cheat the brave.
Tune-" British Grenadier."
THAT seat of science, Athens,
And earth's proud mistress, Rome;
Where now are all their glories?
We scarce can find a tomb.
Then guard your rights, Americans,
Nor stoop to lawless sway;
Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose,
For North America.
We led fair Freedom hither,
And lo, the desert smiled!
A paradise of pleasure
Was opened in the wild!
Your harvest, bold Americans,
No power shall snatch away!
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza,
For free America.
Torn from a world of tyrants,
Beneath this western sky,
We formed a new dominion,
A land of liberty:
The world shall own we're masters here;
Then hasten on the day:
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza,
For free America.
Proud Albion bow'd to Cesar,
And numerous lords before;
To Picts, to Danes, to Normans,
And many masters more :
But we can boast, Americans,
We've never fallen a prey;
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza,
For free America.
God bless this maiden climate,
And through its vast domain
May hosts of heroes cluster,
Who scorn to wear a chain:
And blast the venal sycophant
That dares our rights betray;
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza,
For free America.
Lift up your hands, ye heroes,
And swear, with proud disdain,
The wretch that would ensnare you,
Shall lay his snares in vain:
Should Europe empty all her force,
We'll meet her in array,
And fight and shout, and shout and fight
For North America.
Some future day shall crown us,
The masters of the main,
Our fleet shall speak in thunder
To England, France, and Spain;
And the nations over the ocean spread
Shall tremble and obey
The sons, the sons, the sons, the sons
Of brave America.
BY FRANCIS HOPKINSON, ESQ., Author of the "Battle of the Kegs."
MAKE room, all ye kingdoms, in history renown'd, Whose arms have in battle with victory been crown'd, Make room for America, another great nation;
She rises to claim in your councils a station.
Her sons fought for freedom, and by their own bravery
Have rescued themselves from the shackles of slavery;
America is free; and Britain's abhorr'd;
And America's fame is forever restored.
Fair Freedom in Britain her throne had erected;
Her sons they grew venal, and she disrespected.
The goddess, offended, forsook that base nation,
And fix'd on our mountains: a more honour'd station.
With glory immortal she here sits enthroned,
Nor fears the vain vengeance of Britain disown'd,
Great Washington guards her, with heroes surrounded;
Her foes he, with shameful defeat, has confounded.
To arms! we to arms flew ! 'twas Freedom invited us, The trumpet, shrill sounding, to battle excited us; The banners of virtue, unfurl'd, did wave over us, Our hero led on, and the foe flew before us.
In Heaven and Washington we placed reliance,
We met the proud Britons, and bid them defiance;
The cause we supported was just, and was glorious;
When men fight for freedom, they must be victorious.
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