COME, all you lads of courage bold, | |
| A story true as e’er was told | |
| To your attention I’ll unfold, | |
| ’Tis of the Niagara; | |
| Of cannons rattling round the shore— | 5 |
| Of heroes weltering in their gore— | |
| Of widows, orphans grieving sore, | |
| Where grape and ball | |
| In showers did fall, | |
| And many a valuable tar did fall | 10 |
| In the battle of Lake Erie. | |
| |
| September the tenth, full well I ween, | |
| In eighteen hundred and thirteen, | |
| The weather mild, the sky serene, | |
| Commanded by bold Perry. | 15 |
| Our saucy fleet at anchor lay, | |
| In safety moor’d at Put-in-bay; | |
| ’Twixt sunrise and the break of day, | |
| The British fleet | |
| We chanced to meet, | 20 |
| Our admiral thought he would them greet | |
| With a welcome on Lake Erie. | |
| |
| Our boatswains piped their crews with speed, | |
| Of souls who never fear’d to bleed | |
| Or die to see their country freed— | 25 |
| Of British thraldom weary: | |
| Our Yankee boys were wide awake, | |
| All eager, for their freedom’s sake, | |
| To gain the title of the lake, | |
| From those base slaves, | 30 |
| Who dyed the waves | |
| Of ocean with their brothers’ graves, | |
| Of those who fought on Erie. | |
| |
| ’Twas nearly grog-time of the day, | |
| Our fleet bore up and put away, | 35 |
| The Lawrence cheerly led the way, | |
| Commanded by brave Perry; | |
| She first sustain’d the dreadful shock, | |
| Till useless as a floating log, | |
| Each brace and bowling, stay and block, | 40 |
| Were shot away, | |
| No gun could play,— | |
| Till all her crew but nine that day | |
| Were slain upon Lake Erie. | |
| |
| Brave Elliott sped to our relief, | 45 |
| And took on board our gallant chief, | |
| Nor did we take a single reef | |
| On board the Niagara. | |
| The children yet unborn will say, | |
| There ne’er was fought a greater day, | 50 |
| On ocean’s bosom, lake, or sea. | |
| Our Yankee shot | |
| Were play’d so hot, | |
| That now a rag those brags have not | |
| To hoist upon Lake Erie. | 55 |
| |
| Huzza, my friends! the can, boys, bring; | |
| The fight is o’er, let’s drink and sing; | |
| To Madison the toast shall ring, | |
| And also Elbridge Gerry. | |
| Long live the Congress and our laws, | 60 |
| And those who, hearty in the cause, | |
| Have lent a hand, without a pause, | |
| To crush our foes; | |
| Who still oppose | |
| Our rights where nations’ highway flows, | 65 |
| As well as on Lake Erie. | |
| |
| The memory of the brave let’s toast, | |
| Who clear’d the long disputed coast, | |
| And left us free to rule the roast | |
| Of celebrated Erie. | 70 |
| Let Perry’s name, with loud applause, | |
| Be sounded far beyond the stars; | |
| For he who rules the fate of wars, | |
| This great design, | |
| That Power Divine, | 75 |
| In agency he did consign | |
| To brave and gallant Perry. | |
| |
