Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

Ode for the Fourth of July—1812

WAKE once more to toil and glory,

Sons of Liberty, awake!

Honour calls ye to the battle;

All your freedom is at stake.

Britain, that enslaved your fathers,

Stretches now the yoke on you;

Know you still the stubborn spirit

That your patriot fathers knew?

Then to arms! and sound the tocsin!

Echo, bear it far and wide;

Through Columbia’s happy borders,

And o’er ocean’s swelling tide.

Never from your sight be buried

All the gore your fathers shed;

To achieve your independence,

How they fought, and how they bled!

Independence, bless’d achievement!

Freedom’s sole support and stay;

Shall the proud, insulting Briton

Steal the boasted prize away?

Never! sons of Freedom, never!

Bold we’ll brave dire war’s alarms;

Death himself shall still behold us

Grasp it in our dying arms.

Washington! thou sainted hero!

Teach us still to point our darts;

Still direct our chiefs in council,

Still inspire Columbian hearts.

Hoary warriors! long retired

From the stormy scenes of strife;

Teach your children, independence

Makes alone a happy life.

Gird once more the trusty weapon;

Point again the tube of wo;

Honour, interest, all impels you,

Rout once more your ancient foe.

Teach the world once more to call ye

Saviours of your country dear;

Teach the haughty pride of Britain,

Slaves are not our warriors here.

Children! tarnish not the honour

Bravely wrested in the field;

Swear ye, like your great forefathers,

To fight, to die, but not to yield.

Let this day of dear remembrance

Ev’ry patriot feeling move;

Now to show Columbia’s valour,

Now to prove her children’s love.

We are free! let earth proclaim it;

Join then, brothers, heart and hand;

Heaven, that charter’d us our freedom,

Will protect our steady band.

Let us once again declare it;

Let us show to foreign powers,

Insult shall not go unnoticed,

Independence shall be ours.

Constitution, rights, and country,

Wives and children, friends and all;

Those shall live, if we’re victorious,

These lament us, should we fall.