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TO Libertys enraptured sight, | |
When first Columbias region shone, | |
She haild it from her starry height, | |
And, smiling, claimed it as her own. | |
Fair land, the goddess cried, be free! | 5 |
Soil of my choice! to fame arise! | |
She spoke, and heavens minstrelsy | |
Swelld the loud chorus through the skies: | |
All hail, forever great and free, | |
Columbialand of liberty. | 10 |
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Columbias genius heard the strain, | |
And proudly raised his drooping crest; | |
His sons impatient filld the plain, | |
While panted high each patriots breast: | |
Their fetters they indignant spurnd, | 15 |
They waved their faulchions in the air, | |
And where the goddess altar burnd, | |
From kneeling warriors rose the prayer | |
To die be ours, if thou art free, | |
Columbialand of liberty. | 20 |
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War blew the clarion loud and long; | |
Oppression led his legions on; | |
To battle rushd the patriot throng, | |
And soon the glorious day was won | |
Each bleeding freeman smiled in death; | 25 |
Flying he saw his countrys foes, | |
And, wafted by his latest breath, | |
To heaven the cheerful pæan rose | |
Content I die, for thou art free! | |
Columbialand of liberty. | 30 |
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And shall we ever dim the fires | |
That flames on Freedoms hundred shrines? | |
Shall glorys children shame their sires? | |
Shall cowards spring from heroes loins? | |
No, by the blood our fathers shed, | 35 |
O, Freedom! in thy holy cause, | |
When streaming from the martyrd dead, | |
It seald and sanctified thy laws | |
We swear to keep thee great and free! | |
Columbialand of liberty. | 40 |
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