William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Song: When Freedoms star its last bright gleamW
O’er Europe’s waste had shot in vain,
Columbia caught the expiring beam,
And bore it o’er the western main.
Rule, Columbia, Columbia ever free,
Heaven-born child of liberty.
Which countless years unbless’d had lain,
But now the destined sphere to be
Of Freedom’s pure and sacred reign.
Rule, Columbia, &c.
Of empire’s car the trembling rein,
Thy young but dauntless soul declared
War’s storms but threaten thee in vain.
Rule, Columbia, &c.
Britannia mark’d thy opening reign,
Thy Heaven-shielded breast defied
The tempest-shock of war again.
Rule, Columbia, &c.
Thy waters, forests, all proclaim,
Thy destined course is o’er the wave,
And ocean is thy “field of fame.”
Rule, Columbia, &c.
Thy eagle-flight to check in vain,
For still thy infant flag, unfurl’d,
With Freedom’s charter sweeps the main.
Rule, Columbia, &c.
Its star-gemm’d glories o’er the main,
While Freedom’s sacred beam shall shed
Its light to bless Columbia’s reign.
Rule, Columbia, &c.