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

Welcome, La Fayette

Composed at Nashville, and sung by the young ladies of the Nashville Female Academy on the reception of General La Fayette, at that institution, May 5th, 1825

O! WELCOME, warrior, to the soil

That gave the brave a bed,

Whose harvest yields the ample spoil

Of blood for freedom shed;

Welcome, welcome, to the shore

Thy youthful footsteps fondly press’d,

Where freeborn millions proudly join

To hail the nation’s guest—

Huzza! huzza! huzza! huzza!

To hail the nation’s guest.

Ye beauteous maids, your garlands fling

Around the hero’s brow;

Ye hoary veterans, hither bring

The heart’s full tribute now;

Let kings their diadems cast down,

And nobles shrink to nothing—yet

True glory, honour, gem the name

Of gallant La Fayette—

Huzza! huzza! huzza! huzza!

For gallant La Fayette!

O! welcome, father—name alone

Dearer than titles—we,

Thy children, give thy homage known,

And freemen greet thee free;

True patriot, shield thy hoary head

Beneath the oak thou help’dst to rear:

Welcome, deliverer, champion, friend,

La Fayette’s welcome here—

Huzza! huzza! huzza! huzza!

La Fayette’s welcome here.