Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

War Song—1776

HARK, hark, the sound of war is heard,

And we must all attend;

Take up our arms, and go with speed

Our country to defend.

Our parent state has turn’d our foe,

Which fills our land with pain;

Her gallant ships, mann’d out for war,

Come thundering o’er the main.

There’s Carleton, Howe, and Clinton too,

And many thousands more,

May cross the sea, but all in vain;

Our rights we’ll ne’er give o’er.

Our pleasant land they do invade,

Our property devour;

And all because we won’t submit

To their despotic power.

Then let us go against our foes,

We’d better die than yield;

We and our sons are all undone

If Britain win the field.

Tories may dream of future joys,

But, I am bold to say,

They’ll find themselves bound fast in chains

If Britain wins the day.

Husbands must leave their loving wives,

And sprightly youths attend,

Leave their sweethearts and risk their lives,

Their country to defend.

May they be heroes in the field,

Have heroes’ fame in store;

We pray the Lord to be their shield

Where thundering cannons roar.