William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
The American VolunteerT
A hostile band our shores invade,
I go to dare the cannon balls,
And dye in blood my battle blade,
And Mary, gentle and sincere,
Weep not, I pray, when thus we part,
Drive from thine eye the falling tear,
And banish sorrow from thy heart.
The foes’ approach in martial pride,
And see them force our farm-house gate,
With lust and rapine by their side,
I could not bear the keen rebuke
Thy screams would speak in that dread hour;
I could not bear thy helpless look,
When struggling with a ruffian’s power.
And meet the invader on the strand,
And they shall surely rue the day
They dared upon our coast to land.
And weep not, Mary, if I fall,
Nor heave thy bosom with a sigh—
Death is the common lot of all,
’Tis for my country I shall die.
That life is not with slavery wed;
Teach him to yield it up with joy,
At Freedom’s call, on Honour’s bed.
Tell him ’twas thus our heroes fought;
And, Mary, be thou sure to tell
Our little one, that thus he ought
To fight—for thus his father fell.