Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

Ocean’s Liberty

YE seamen of America, rouse, rouse your native fires;

Go forth to deeds of glory, worthy your gallant sires,

No more submit to Britain’s rule where ocean rolls his wave:

But maintain on the main,

The rights which nature gave.

Assert the ocean’s liberty, or make its bed your grave.

See how the Constitution’s crew assail’d the haughty foe!

They speak their wrongs in thunder, no fear their bosoms know:

See Britain’s boasted wooden walls succumb beneath their might,

When again on the main

They wage the dreadful fight.

Assert the ocean’s liberty, and wage the dreadful fight!

Rouse, rouse to deeds of valour, your vengeance on the foe;

No more impressment’s cruel wrong shall Yankee seamen know;

The ocean’s perfect liberty in thunder loud proclaim:

On the main firm maintain

The rights you justly claim;

Avenge your country’s injuries, or perish on the main.

See how the brave Decatur subdues the foe in fight!

See Britain’s boasted bull-dogs subdued by Yankee might!

Such be your deeds, whene’er you meet the Briton on the wave:

On the main firm maintain

The rights which nature gave,

Assert the ocean’s liberty, or make its bed your grave.

Loud roar’d the storm of ocean when Jones the Frolic met:

But danger strengthen’d bravery; upon the foe he set.

Soon, soon the humbled British crew their shatter’d barque resign

To the brave on the wave;

The contest they decline,

Acknowledge Yankee mastery, and valour’s meed resign.

Go forth, ye ocean warriors, to combat on the flood;

Your country’s many injuries avenge in British blood.

The ocean’s perfect liberty in thunder loud proclaim;

On the main firm maintain

The rights you justly claim,

Assert the ocean’s liberty or perish on the main.