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Home  »  The American National Song-Book  »  Thomas Paine (1737–1809)

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

Liberty-Tree—A New Song

Thomas Paine (1737–1809)

By Atlanticus

From the Pennsylvania Magazine, for July, 1775.

Tune—“The Gods of the Greeks,” or, “In a Mouldering Cave”

IN a chariot of light from the regions of day,

The goddess of Liberty came:

Ten thousand celestials directed the way,

And hither conducted the dame.

A fair budding branch from the gardens above,

Where millions with millions agree,

She brought in her hand, as a pledge of her love,

And the plant she named LIBERTY TREE.

The celestial exotic struck deep in the ground,

Like a native it flourish’d and bore;

The fame of its fruit drew the nations around,

To seek out this peaceable shore.

Unmindful of names or distinctions they came,

For freemen like brothers agree;

With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued,

And their temple was LIBERTY TREE.

Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old,

Their bread in contentment they ate,

Unvexed with the troubles of silver and gold,

The cares of the grand and the great.

With timber and tar they old England supplied,

And supported her power on the sea;

Her battles they fought, without getting a groat,

For the honour of LIBERTY TREE.

But hear, oh, ye swains, (’tis a tale most profane,)

How all the tyrannical powers,

King, commons, and lords, are uniting amain,

To cut down this guardian of ours!

From the east to the west blow the trumpet to arms!

Through the land let the sound of it flee;

Let the far and the near all unite, with a cheer,

In defence of our LIBERTY TREE.