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

Columbia, Land of Liberty

TO Liberty’s enraptured sight,

When first Columbia’s hero shone;

She hail’d him from her starry height,

And smiling claim’d him as her own!

“Fayette,” the goddess cried, “be free,

Son of my choice, to fame arise.”

She spoke, and straight heaven’s minstrelsy

Swell’d the loud chorus of the skies,

Welcome Fayette, both great and free,

To this dear land of liberty.

War blew her clarion loud and long,

Oppression led his legions on,

To battle rush’d the patriot throng,

And soon the glorious day was won.

Each bleeding freeman smiled in death,

Flying, he saw his country’s foes,

And wafted by his latest breath,

To heaven the cheerful pæan rose.

Content I die, for thou art free,

Columbia, land of liberty.

And shall we ever dim the fires

That flame on Freedom’s kindred shrines?

Shall glory’s children shame their sires?

Shall cowards spring from heroes’ loins?

No; by the blood our fathers shed,

O Freedom, in the holy cause,

When streaming from the martyr’d dead,

It seal’d, and sanctified thy laws,

We swear to keep thee great and free,

Columbia, land of liberty.