Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

The Soldier’s Call

ROUSE, rouse, ye brave, ye gallant souls,

Who cherish independence,

That country you so dearly love

Demands your quick attendance;

Injured, insulted, she has been,

By Britain—haughty nation;

Then haste to arms, for honour calls

Aloud for reparation.

Remember your forefathers bold,

For freedom who contended,

Who nobly dear Columbia’s cause

With their best blood defended;

O! do not sully their fair fame:

O tarnish not their glories;

Discard the deeds, despise the name

And actions of old tories.

In infant days Columbia bore

The storms of war unmoved,

For a tyrant’s wrath and deep designs

More than a match she proved;

O! who can think upon those times,

Nor feel his bosom glowing,

Nor feel sensations, sweet, sublime,

His patriot heart o’erflowing.

And if in infancy she foil’d

The plans of wild ambition,

To her united youthful might

Vain will be opposition:

In Him who rules the host of heaven,

Her hope, her stay, her trust, is,

He will with victory crown the cause

Of liberty and justice.

Too long has our loved country sought,

By mild negotiation,

To have her rights restored in peace,

For wrongs some compensation.

But patience hitherto has made

Her claims be more neglected,

The last resort then must tried,

She then may be respected.

Though war we never do desire,

We do not dread its terrors;

Columbia’s thunders shall once more,

Show kingcraft all its errors.

Her volunteers will rally round

The starry flag of Freedom,

Nor shall Quebec arrest their march,

If heroes only lead them.

Then beat the drum—the trumpet sound,

And let the cannon rattle,

Gird on your swords, your muskets seize,

Be all prepared for battle.

Go forth to conquer or to die,

The cause is good, is glorious,

And sacred Union will ensure,

The final end victorious.