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OLD Ross, Cockburn, and Cochrane too, | |
And many a bloody villain more, | |
Swore with their bloody savage crew, | |
That they would plunder Baltimore. | |
But General Winder being afraid | 5 |
That his militia would not stand, | |
He sent away to crave the aid | |
Of a few true Virginians. | |
Then up we rose with hearts elate, | |
To help our suffering sister state. | 10 |
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When first our orders we received, | |
For to prepare without delay, | |
Our wives and sweethearts for to leave, | |
And to the army march away. | |
Although it grieved our hearts full sore, | 15 |
To leave our sweet Virginia shore, | |
We kissd our sweethearts oer and oer, | |
And marchd like true Virginians. | |
Adieu awhile, sweet girls adieu, | |
With honour well return to you. | 20 |
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With rapid marches on we went, | |
To leave our sweet Virginia shore, | |
No halt was made, no time was spent, | |
Till we arrived at Baltimore. | |
The Baltimoreans did us greet, | 25 |
The ladies clapt their lily-white hands, | |
Exclaiming as we passd the street, | |
Welcome, ye brave Virginians. | |
May Heaven all your foes confound, | |
And send you home with laurels crownd. | 30 |
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We had not been in quarters long, | |
Before we heard the dread alarms, | |
The cannon roard, the bells did ring, | |
The drum did beat to arms, to arms. | |
Then up we rose to face our foes, | 35 |
Determined to meet them on the strand, | |
And drive them back from fair Freedoms shore, | |
Or die like brave Virginians. | |
In heaven above we placed our trust, | |
Well knowing that our cause is just. | 40 |
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Then Ross he landed at North Point, | |
With seven thousand men or more, | |
And swore by that time next night, | |
That he would be in Baltimore. | |
But Striker met him on the strand, | 45 |
Attended by a chosen band, | |
Where he received a fatal shot, | |
From a brave Pennsylvanian | |
Whom Heaven directed to the field, | |
To make this haughty Briton yield. | 50 |
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Then Cockburn he drew up his fleet, | |
To bombard Fort McHenry, | |
A thinking that our men, of course, | |
Would take affright and run away. | |
The fort was commanded by a patriotic band, | 55 |
As ever graced fair freedoms land, | |
And he who did the fort command | |
Was a true blue Virginian. | |
Long may we have brave Armsteads name | |
Recorded on the book of fame. | 60 |
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A day and a night they tried their might, | |
But found their bombs did not prevail, | |
And seeing their army put to flight, | |
They weighd their anchor and made sail, | |
Resolving to return again, | 65 |
To execute their former plan; | |
But if they do, theyll find us still | |
That we are brave Virginians. | |
And they shall know before theyve done, | |
That they are not in Washington. | 70 |
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But now their shippings out of sight, | |
And each man takes a parting glass, | |
Drinks to his true love and hearts delight, | |
His only joy and bosom friend, | |
For I might as well drink a health, | 75 |
For I hate to see good liquor stand, | |
That America may always boast, | |
That we are brave Virginians. | |
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