Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

Song: ‘When Freedom’s star its last bright gleam’

WHEN Freedom’s star its last bright gleam

O’er Europe’s waste had shot in vain,

Columbia caught the expiring beam,

And bore it o’er the western main.

Rule, Columbia, Columbia ever free,

Heaven-born child of liberty.

Then rose a world, by Heaven’s decree,

Which countless years unbless’d had lain,

But now the destined sphere to be

Of Freedom’s pure and sacred reign.
Rule, Columbia, &c.

Then ere, Columbia, thou hadst shared

Of empire’s car the trembling rein,

Thy young but dauntless soul declared

War’s storms but threaten thee in vain.
Rule, Columbia, &c.

And when, ere long, with stepdame pride

Britannia mark’d thy opening reign,

Thy Heaven-shielded breast defied

The tempest-shock of war again.
Rule, Columbia, &c.

Thy birth, Columbia, sons so brave;

Thy waters, forests, all proclaim,

Thy destined course is o’er the wave,

And ocean is thy “field of fame.”
Rule, Columbia, &c.

Again, behold war’s bolts are hurl’d,

Thy eagle-flight to check in vain,

For still thy infant flag, unfurl’d,

With Freedom’s charter sweeps the main.
Rule, Columbia, &c.

And under heaven it still shall spread

Its star-gemm’d glories o’er the main,

While Freedom’s sacred beam shall shed

Its light to bless Columbia’s reign.
Rule, Columbia, &c.