William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Death or Victory—1814B
Columbian heroes, hail!
Whose vengeance speaks in thunder deep,
Whose valour swells the gale;
Again—again to conquest! on!
The star-girt flag let fly;
For the foe onward go,
’Tis to death or victory.
Shall ne’er in chains be thrall’d:
’Fore the terrors of her lightning front
The foe shall shrink appall’d.
Her sons, in freedom strongly nerved,
Shall tyrant worlds defy:
Midst the storms of their arms,
They’ll find death or victory.
With pendant blue unfurl’d;
Hesperia’s banner’d eagle waves
Defiance to the world:
Tells, when their country calls to arms,
How freemen dare to die.
At her call they will fall,
Or find glorious victory.
The tyrant foe appear;
Though wide his thousand streamers wave,
And proudly flout the air—
Yet, freemen, on! midst storm, midst fire,
Ye conquer, or ye die!
From the grave of the brave
Springs our country’s liberty.
The foeman gives his front;
And thrice and thrice Columbia’s tars
Loud hail the battle’s brunt.
And thrice and thrice our eagle soars
Triumphantly on high:
Whilst the deep wakes his sleep,
At our shouts of victory.
Come try what freemen dare;
In liberty’s almighty cause
They scorn—they know not fear.
While iron tempests raging beat,
Their standard star shall fly;
To the brave it shall wave
On to death or victory!
Still guard your country’s weal:
Lo! o’er the wave-repelling deck
Your sons embattled kneel.
By your blood which flow’d we, bending, swear,
“Freemen we’ll live or die.”
Midst the storms of our arms
We’ll find death or victory.