William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
The Land of HeroesA
Offspring of eternal day,
Why should not the whole creation
Homage to thy virtue pay?
That in the field and heat of battle,
On the deep where cannon roar;
First, triumphant and undaunted,
Banish’d tyrants from your shore.
Wrapt in darkness, bound in chains;
The nation independence seeking,
Roused to arms, her right regains—
High exalted rose the eagle,
Glorious as the morning star;
Nature smiled and seem’d delighted,
Freedom’s voice was heard afar.
On the soil that gave thee birth;
All your sons your rights will nourish,
Blest with festive joy and mirth;
Whilst the nations of the world,
Tortured, shivering in despair,
Mourn their agonizing victims,
Cries of death ascend the air,
With brave Montgomery at Quebec,
The foe you there most nobly foil’d him,
And sustain’d the fierce attack—
Hail, Columbia, land of heroes,
Boundless may thy influence run;
Universal as the day,
And everlasting as the sun.