William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842. | | Naval Heroes1814 |
| YE sons of Columbia, come, let us rejoice | |
In the bright course of glory our brave tars have run, | |
And in one mighty chorus, with one heart and voice, | |
Pour the tribute of verse oer the laurels theyve won. | |
Hearts of oak are our ships, souls of fire are our men, | 5 |
They always are ready, | |
Steady boys, steady, | |
To fight and to conquer again and again. | |
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O, long on our mountains the forests have stood, | |
Through ages of peace in the shade of neglect; | 10 |
But the fiat of heaven calls them down to the flood, | |
Our shores to defend, and our rights to protect. Hearts of oak, &c. | |
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And see, while the nations of Europe have long | |
Mid the conflicts of war reard their pillars of fame, | |
We can boast of our heroes whose arms are as strong, | 15 |
Whose achievements will give them as deathless a name. Hearts of oak, &c. | |
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See Hull, Jones, Decatur, and Bainbridge now burn, | |
Brighter stars in our land than vain Britons can claim: | |
For while they beat the world, we beat them in our turn, | |
And thus prostrate at once their proud pillars of fame. Hearts of oak, &c. | 20 |
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Behold, too, brave Lawrence, whose splendid career, | |
Gives another bright star to the sky of our fame, | |
Though removed from this world, his example shall rear | |
Future heroes in war, by the fame of his name. Hearts of oak, &c. | |
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And see, too, young Burroughs, the seamans delight, | 25 |
Bears another fair sprig pluckd from Victorys brow, | |
Though twas bought by his life-blood, that streamd in the fight, | |
Life gainst honour is naught, as our brave tars well know. Hearts of oak, &c. | |
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But hark! while we sing, hear the trumpet of fame, | |
With the glad notes of triumph again our ears greet: | 30 |
Tis for Perry it swells, ever glorious name, | |
To whose matchless arm struck a whole British fleet. Hearts of oak, &c. | |
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Weve yet thousands besides of young sons of the wave, | |
Who but wait for the call of their country to fly, | |
And to enter the lists, with the first of the brave, | 35 |
Who their honour insult, or their prowess defy. Hearts of oak, &c. | |
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Then, ye sons of Columbia, come, let us rejoice | |
In the bright course of glory our country can boast; | |
And in one mighty chorus, with one heart and voice, | |
While we drink to our tars, let this still be our toast | 40 |
Hearts of oak are our ships, souls of fire are our men; | |
They always are ready, | |
Steady boys, steady, | |
For their country to fight, and to conquer again. | | |
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