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

National Jubilee

BEHOLD a nation’s Jubilee,

Ten millions bless’d with liberty,

Now welcome La Fayette!

See Freedom’s empire in the west,

Arise and bow to meet her guest

Where terror’s sun has set.

No monarch in your eastern skies

Can meet a nation’s joyful eyes,

Like welcome La Fayette;

Age leaps for joy—rememb’ring wo,

Those checks where love and friendship glow,

With grateful tears are wet.

Columbia’s sons,—rise—catch the fire,

That could so great a soul inspire,

As welcome La Fayette;

Like him deserve a nation’s praise;

Defence of freedom best repays

An everlasting debt.

Let Fame her loudest clarion ring,

Let Liberty thank-offerings bring

To welcome La Fayette;

She calls on every free-born son

To bless the day when Washington

With him for glory met.

America on earth alone

With freedom blest! her son will own.

Her welcome La Fayette.

A voice from every hero’s grave

Is heard—“My sons be free and brave;

Nor Freedom’s friend forget.”

The nation hears—resolves—obeys,

Partakes the patriotic blaze,

Of welcome La Fayette;

The patriot’s fire our wall shall be,

Till grace in heaven makes virtue free,

Where God’s rewards are great.