dots-menu
×

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

Freedom’s Star

Tune—“Hermit of Killarney”

WHEN rolling orbs from chaos sprung,

A guide for the oppress’d;

One sparkling star kind Nature flung,

And fix’d it in the west;

Admiring millions view its flight,

And hail it from afar;

Enraptured, bless its cheering light;

They call it FREEDOM’S STAR.

Beneath its influence, deserts wild

Are deck’d in Eden’s bloom:

It makes the wintry tempest mild;

Deep forests cease to gloom;

And man, erect, with eye of fire,

The oppressor’s threats can dare;

May to man’s dignity aspire,

And bless his FREEDOM’S STAR.

It can a brighter mantling glow

O’er blushing Beauty shed,

A smile of heavenly radiance throw,

A halo round her head;

The warrior rouse, through tented field

To drive the rapid car,

Whilst tyrants, pale and trembling, yield,

To FREEDOM’S BLAZING STAR.

Then sweep, ye bards, the sounding lyre

In animating strain;

Sages, consume, with pens of fire,

The fell oppressor’s chain;

Then to the field, ye brave and free,

Nor dread the storm of war;

Your guide to victory shall be

Dear FREEDOM’S BLAZING STAR.