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Dr. Joseph Warren, of Boston (a member of Massachusett's Committee of Correspondence and a participant in the Battle of Breed's Hill) wrote this song. He set it to the tune of an English ballad: British Grenadiers.
That seat of science Athens, And earth's proud mistress, Rome, Where now are all their glories, We scarce can find a tomb.
Then guard your rights, Americans, Nor stoop to lawless sway, Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose, For North America.
Proud Albion bow'd to Caesar, And numerous lords before, To Picts, to Danes, to Normans, And many masters more;
But we can boast Americans Have never fall'n a prey, Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, For Free America.
We led fair Freedom hither, And lo, the desert smiled, A paradise of pleasure New opened in the wild;
Your harvest, bold Americans, No power shall snatch away, Preserve, preserve, preserve your rights, In Free America.
Torn from a world of tyrants Beneath this western sky We formed a new dominion, A land of liberty;
The world shall own we're freemen here, And such will ever be, Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza, For love and liberty.
God bless this maiden climate, And through her vast domain May hosts of heroes cluster That scorn to wear a chain.
And blast the venal sycophants Who dare our rights betray; Assert yourselves, yourselves, yourselves, For brave America.
Lift up your hearts, my heroes, And swear with proud disdain, The wretch that would ensnare you Shall spread his net in vain;
Should Europe empty all her force, We'd meet them in array, And shout huzza, huzza, huzza, For brave America.
The land where freedom reigns shall still Be masters of the main, In giving laws and freedom To subject France and Spain;
And all the isles o'er ocean spread Shall tremble and obey, The prince who rules by Freedom's laws, In North America.
Note: The midi file that is linked to this page was sequenced by Lesley Nelson-Burns and maintained on her website, located at: http://www.contemplator.com/intro.html
