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

Farewell, Peace—1812

Air—“Banish sorrow, grief’s a folly”

FAREWELL, Peace! another crisis

Calls us to “the last appeal,”

Made when monarchs and their vices

Leave no argument but steel.

When injustice and oppression

Dare avow the tyrant’s plea,

Who would recommend submission?

Virtue bids us to be free.

History spreads her page before us,

Time unrolls his ample scroll;

Truth unfolds them, to assure us,

States, united, ne’er can fall.

See, in annals Greek and Roman,

What immortal deeds we find;

When those gallant sons of woman

In their country’s cause combined.

Sons of Freedom! brave descendants

From a race of heroes tried,

To preserve our independence

Let all Europe be defied.

Let not all the world, united,

Rob us of one sacred right:

Every patriot heart’s delighted

In his country’s cause to fight.

Come then, War! with hearts elated

To thy standard we will fly;

Every bosom animated

Either to live free or die.

May the wretch that shrinks from duty,

Or deserts the glorious strife,

Never know the smile of beauty,

Nor the blessing of a wife.