Naval Heroes--1814. William McCarty, comp. 1842. The American National Song Book

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

Naval Heroes—1814

Tune—“Hearts of Oak”

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 o’er the laurels they’ve 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.

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.

And see, while the nations of Europe have long
Mid the conflicts of war rear’d 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.

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

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.

And see, too, young Burroughs, the seaman’s delight,	25
Bears another fair sprig pluck’d from Victory’s brow,
Though ’twas bought by his life-blood, that stream’d in the fight,
Life ’gainst honour is naught, as our brave tars well know. Hearts of oak, &c.

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.

We’ve 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.

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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