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American War Ballads and Lyrics, Volume 1 (of 2): A Collection of the Songs and Ballads of the Colonial Wars, the Revolutions, the War of 1812-15, the War with Mexico and the Civil War

History

American War Ballads and Lyrics, Volume 1 (of 2): A Collection of the Songs and Ballads of the Colonial Wars, the Revolutions, the War of 1812-15, the War with Mexico and the Civil War

United States -- History -- Poetry; War poetry, American; War songs -- United States -- Texts

Britannia's gallant streamers,
      Float proudly o'er the tide,
    And fairly wave Columbia's stripes,
      In battle side by side.
    And ne'er did bolder seamen meet,
      Where ocean's surges pour;
    O'er the tide now they ride,
      While the bell'wing thunders roar,
    While the cannon's fire is flashing fast,
      And the bell'wing thunders roar.

    When Yankee meets the Briton,
      Whose blood congenial flows,
    By Heav'n created to be friends,
      By fortune rendered foes;
    Hard then must be the battle fray,
      Ere well the fight is o'er;
    Now they ride, side by side,
      While the bell'wing thunders roar,
    While her cannon's fire is flashing fast,
      And the bell'wing thunders roar.

    Still, still, for noble England
      Bold D'Acres' streamers fly;
    And for Columbia, gallant Hull's
      As proudly and as high;
    Now louder rings the battle din,
      And thick the volumes pour;
    Still they ride, side by side,
      While the bell'wing thunders roar,
    While the cannon's fire is flashing fast,
      And the bell'wing thunders roar.

    Why lulls Britannia's thunder,
      That waked the wat'ry war?
    Why stays the gallant _Guerrière_,
      Whose streamers waved so fair?
    That streamer drinks the ocean wave,
      That warrior's fight is o'er!
    Still they ride, side by side,
      While the bell'wing thunders roar,
    While the cannon's fire is flashing fast,
      And the bell'wing thunders roar.

    Hark! 'tis the Briton's lee gun!
      Ne'er bolder warrior kneeled!
    And ne'er to gallant mariners
      Did braver seamen yield.
    Proud be the sires, whose hardy boys
      Then fell to fight no more:
    With the brave, mid the wave;
      When the cannon's thunders roar,
    Their spirits then shall trim the blast,
      And swell the thunder's roar.

    Vain were the cheers of Britons,
      Their hearts did vainly swell,
    Where virtue, skill, and bravery
      With gallant Morris fell.
    That heart so well in battle tried,
      Along the Moorish shore,
    And again o'er the main,
      When Columbia's thunders roar,
    Shall prove its Yankee spirit true,
      When Columbia's thunder's roar.

    Hence be our floating bulwark
      Those oaks our mountains yield;
    'Tis mighty Heaven's plain decree--
      Then take the wat'ry field!
    To ocean's farthest barrier then
      Your whit'ning sail shall pour;
    Safe they'll ride o'er the tide,
      While Columbia's thunders roar,
    While her cannon's fire is flashing fast,
      And her Yankee thunders roar.

  1813.

[Illustration]




YE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

American War Ballads and Lyrics, Volume 1 (of 2): A Collection of the Songs and Ballads of the Colonial Wars, the Revolutions, the War of 1812-15, the War with Mexico and the Civil War

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