William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Constitution and JavaTune—“Vive la!”
Y
Shout aloud the patriot strain;
Freedom’s flag, again victorious,
Floats triumphant o’er the main.
Hull immortalized her name,
Bainbridge, round it, in profusion,
Pours the golden blaze of fame.
Ere intrepid Bainbridge rose,
Eager, while the world applauded,
To subdue his country’s foes.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.
Sunk his foe beneath the flood;
Fired with equal resolution,
Bainbridge sought the scene of blood.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.
Fierce the hot contention rose:
Like the streams of Etna’s lava,
Fell our vengeance on the foes.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.
Saw his realm with carnage spread—
Saw our fire consume the ocean,
Cover’d with the floating dead.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.
While the strife deform’d the flood;
Ere the fiend of death, diverted,
Ceased to glut on human blood.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.
Floats, a wreck, without a spar!
Lowly lies, on ocean’s pillow,
Many a brave and gallant tar.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.
Bid our vengeful tars forbear:
Mercy views the foe’s condition,
Sees a bleeding brother there.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.
Yields to our superior fire;
Board the prize! relieve the wounded!
Ere in anguish they expire.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.
Groaning there, a hundred bleed:
Sixty-nine has death arrested,
From their floating prisons freed.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.
See! she follows the Guerriere!
Now your cans fill to the brim, boys:
Sing our navy’s bright career.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.
Hull, Decatur, Rodgers, Jones:
Bainbridge, chief in naval glory,
Smiling Freedom joyful owns.
Hail, the gallant Constitution, &c.