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Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889

Free America

By Joseph Warren (1741–1775)

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 bowed to Cæsar,

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 fleets 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.