Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

The American Sword

FORGED from Oppression’s chain;

Valiantly used,

Wielded when prayers were vain;

Never abused:

Sword that our fathers drew!

We, by their dust,

Swear to prove good and true

Heirs of the trust.

Should e’er domestic strife

Call for thy steel,

Be thou the pruningknife,

Wounding to heal!

Should Freedom’s foes accurst

E’er seek our shore,

Forth like God’s lightning burst

E’er as of yore!

Blood rusts thy blade upon;

Why was it shed?

Answer from Lexington,

Glorious dead!

Cry from your lowly rest

’Neath the green sod,

“Sons! for our rights, the blest

Charter of God!”

From our sires’ hallow’d earth

Breathes a deep tone:

“Not for the South or North

Fought we alone:

All in one holy band

Sought we to bind—

O! let not factious hand

Loose what we’ve join’d!”