William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Let the Drum Beat to Arms!A
Her ensigns wave high in the air:
Hark! the deep-sounding drum, which the coward appals,
And the clarion our fiats declare;
Each tone doth proclaim that our rights we’ll maintain:
No invader we dread, to retreat we disdain!
Let the drum beat to arms;
Let our loved country call;
We despise war’s alarms,
For our freedom’s our all!
Who would bend to a tyrant’s decree?
The Ægis of Justice waves over our land,
Our motto is, D
The blood of our brethren has tinged the green wave,
And speaks, loudly speaks, to the hearts of the brave.
Let the drum, &c.
For Justice supports their high claim:
Honour points the bright path, and with hearts undismay’d,
They join in the patriot’s name;
They fight for their country, religion, and laws,
Their wives, sweethearts, children, how glorious the cause!
Let the drum, &c.
To form the deep column or line,
Who our troops, so victorious, to glory still led,
In vain would proud despots design;
But, hark! Freedom’s clarion doth loudly proclaim,
I have sons in reserve, high exalted in fame.
Let the drum beat to arms!
Let their loved country call;
They despise war’s alarms,
For their freedom’s their all.
And bind in philosophy’s chain;
Our brethren, our sisters, the whole human race,
And treat none with haughty disdain;
But should tyrants invade us, we know how to stand,
And form the deep line at the word of command.
Let the drum beat to arms,
From Columbia’s shore
We will beat them again,
As we beat them before.