William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Well Be Free on the Sea1812Y
The battle, and the wilderness, to shun the fate of slaves;
Those rights they bled for now maintain, where’er a wave can flow,
And be free on the sea, in despite of every foe,
Though tyrants frown, and cannons roar, and the raging tempests blow.
And sees two mighty oceans roll their tribute to her shores;
The Atlantic and Pacific wave for us alike will flow,
We’ll be free on the sea, &c.
The ocean’s first great conqueror assigns to us his claim;
From east to west, and round the globe, where’er the salt seas flow,
We’ll be free on the sea, &c.
Till from your hills our navy calls your towering tops to bend;
Then spread the canvass to the gale, and where a wave can flow,
We’ll be free on the sea, &c.
To every friendly name a dove, to foes a bird of blood.
Her stars shall blaze a sign of peace where’er a wave may flow;
And we’ll be free on the sea, &c.