William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Decatur’s ReturnS
Who’s destin’d to shine in the annals of story,
A bright ray of vict’ry beams high on his crest,
Encircled, his brows, by a halo of glory.
On Afric’s bleak shore,
From the insolent Moor,
His bloody stained laurels in triumph he tore,
Where the crescent, which oft spread its terrors afar,
Submissively bow’d to the American star.
From American freemen a tribute demanded;
Columbia’s brave freemen the tribute denied,
And his corsairs to seize our bold tars were commanded.
Their streamers wave high,
But Decatur draws nigh,
His name strikes like lightning—in terror they fly.
Thrice welcome our hero, returned from afar,
Where the proud crescent falls to the American star.