William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
National Song: ‘Swell the proud pæan! the day-star advances’Edwin Clifford Holland (1794–1824)
Written for the celebration of the 4th of July, 1814—By Edwin C. Holland, Esq, of Charleston, South Carolina
S
Whose glories the triumph of Freedom proclaim:
Long may the lustre around it that glances,
Lead us to Liberty, Commerce, and Fame.
Bright from the billows’ foam,
Girt with a starry zone,
Thy genius, Columbia, sublimely aspires,
Stern as her eagle eye,
Ranges through earth and sky,
Lightens its glare with more radiant fires.
When rock’d with the whirlwind the waves of thy deep,
Fierce was the conflict, the battle was ended,
And silent and long was the warrior’s sleep.
Fair bloom’d the forest wild,
Peace through the valley smiled,
No more howl’d the tempest—the war-song was hush’d;
Sound then the trump of Fame,
Bless’d be each hero’s name,
Fearless of death, in the contest that rush’d.
Refulgent as stars o’er the billowy main;
Washington marshall’d the chieftains to glory,
And shone o’er the host like a pillar of flame.
Back from thy shores afar
Roll’d the rude storm of war;
The tempest-toss’d ark found its mount of repose;
Free as thy flag unfurl’d
Wide o’er the western world,
Liberty dawn’d, and America rose.
Thy genius shall rise o’er the ruin of time:
Immortal thy fame, thou shalt live in the story,
Splendid in peace, and in battle sublime!
Hark, from each rocky height
Dashes the tide of fight;
The noise of the battle hath waken’d the brave;
Proud as thy banner flies,
Millions with ardour rise,
Thy realm from invasion and insult to save.
Again like a meteor the war-beacon streams:
Deep are the thunders that roll from thy mountains,
Martial the lustre on ocean that gleams.
Stamp’d on thy native sea,
Offspring of Liberty;
Thy footsteps are brighten’d with triumph and fame,
High o’er the waste of war
Blazons thy naval car;
Ocean is free—and its freedom we claim.