William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Light of GloryA
Through morning’s rosy portals seen,
The star of Freedom lights our plain,
And glances on our mountains green.
Light of glory, shine afar,
Our guide in peace, our shield in war.
Our fathers sought a distant shore,
Thy rays illumed the pilgrims’ course,
And western magi thee adore.
Light of glory, shine afar,
Our guide in peace, our shield in war.
Thy power transforms to cities fair,
And, late where roam’d the savage host,
The virgin waves her golden hair.
Light of glory, shine afar,
Our guide in peace, our shield in war.
Pactolean streams rich commerce brings,
While Art usurps rude Nature’s sway,
And Science spreads her eagle wings.
Light of glory, shine afar,
Our guide in peace, our shield in war.
Our wealth to seize, ourselves enslave,
Thy beams made patriot bosoms warm,
But lit the tyrants to their grave.
Light of glory, shine afar,
Our guide in peace, our shield in war.
Great W
Bore on his arm a nation’s care,
And o’er his brow the smiles of God.
Light of glory, shine afar,
Our guide in peace, our shield in war.
To those whose blood manured the tree
Beneath whose wide and glorious shade
We taste the sweets of liberty.
Light of glory, shine afar,
Our guide in peace, our shield in war.
The fruits our fathers’ labour won,
We swear forever to preserve
And guard the gift of W
Light of glory, shine afar,
Our guide in peace, our shield in war.