Click this icon to hear Hearts Of Oak if it does not automatically play.
John Dickinson, of Delaware, wrote some verses which he married to the tune of Hearts Of Oak, to produce In Freedom We're Born. Dickinson served in the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1764.
The song was published in the Boston Gazette in 1765, making it one of the earliest (if not the earliest) patriotic song composed in America. It was variously known as The Liberty Song.
The last verse should be noted. Even though the song advocates patriotism and freedom for Americans, there is no rancor toward Great Britain. The majority of Americans, until July, 1776, did not really want to break off relations with the mother country; their argument was with the Parliament, and many Americans saw no discrepancy between being "free" and still being British subjects.
Come join hand in hand, brave Americans all, And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty's call;
No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim, Or stain with dishonor America's name.
Chorus: In Freedom we're born, and in freedom we'll live; Our purses are ready,
Steady, friends, steady, Not as slaves, but as freemen our money we'll give.
Our worthy forefathers - let's give them a cheer,
Their generous bosoms all dangers despis'd, So highly, so wisely, their birthrights they priz'd;
We'll keep what they gave, we will piously keep, Nor frustrate their toils on the land or the deep.
The Tree, their own hands had to Liberty rear'd, They lived to behold growing strong and rever'd;
With transport then cried, "Now our wishes we gain,For our children shall gather the fruits of our pain."
How sweet are the labors that freemen endure, That they shall enjoy the profit, secure,
no more such sweet labors Americans know, If Britons shall reap what Americans sow.
Swarms of placemen and pensioners soon will appear, Like locusts deforming the charms of the year:
Suns vainly will rise, showers vainly descend, If we are to drudge for what others shall spend.
Then join hand in hand brave Americans all, By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall;
In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed, For Heaven approves of each generous deed.
All ages shall speak with amaze and applause, Of the courage we'll show in support of our laws;
To die we can bear, but to serve we disdain, For shame is to freedom more dreadful than pain.
This bumper I crown for our sovereign's health, And this for Britannia's glory and wealth;
That wealth, and that glory immortal may be, If she is but just, and we are but free.
Note: The midi file that is linked to this page was sequenced by an unknown musician, for the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps, whose website is located at: http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Bunker/5103/
