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

Decatur and the Navy

LET glory proclaim to the hills of the west,

The triumph of Freedom afar;

Our song be Decatur, and Liberty blest,

Huzza to the brave and the war.

The gallant commander and all his brave band

Rejoice at the sight of the foe;

Three cheers, give the signal; each heart and each hand

Conspires to strike the first blow.

Then furious the cannon’s fierce thunderings roar,

Death speedily follows the blaze,

The dead and the dying lie cover’d with gore,

While Freedom the contest surveys.

Sweet Goddess! that guides us to glory and fame,

And rides in the terrible blast,

Now give to Decatur a glorious name,

That long as his country shall last.

The fierce Macedonian soon yields to her foe,

She yields to the gallant and brave;

Success to our sailors wherever they go,

And in death, sweetest peace to their grave.

Huzza to the brave that triumphantly ride,

And traverse the boisterous sea,

Columbia’s glory, her honour and pride,

And Freedom’s fair bulwark shall be.

Our brave, gallant navy shall sooner or later,

The ocean, victorious, plough:

And Liberty’s conquests, with noble Decatur,

Shall make the proud Albion bow.

The tars of Columbia were born to be brave,

Their birthright is liberty blest;

To shield it from insult, from ruin to save,

Shall long be the pride of each breast.

Then hail to our navy, all hail in a bumper!

Decatur, and Rodgers, and Hull:

May Rodgers soon meet with the fierce roving “Plumper,”

And drub his old friend Johnny Bull.