The Liberty Song

The Liberty Song is an American Revolutionary War song composed by patriot John Dickinson, the author of "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania". The song is set to the tune of "Heart of Oak," the anthem of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, and was first published in the Boston Gazette in July 1768. [ [http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/l/ed_libertysong.html "The Liberty Song" - 1768 ] ]

The song is notable as one of the earliest patriotic songs in the thirteen colonies. Dickinson's fourth verse is the first appearance of the phrase, "united we stand, divided we fall," a patriotic slogan that has prominently appeared several times throughout American history, most recently after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C..

Lyrics

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,
To climates unknown did courageously steer;
Thro' oceans to deserts for Freedom they came,
And dying, bequeath'd us their freedom and fame.

"Chorus"

The tree their own hands had to Liberty rear'd,
They lived to behold growing strong and revered;
With transport they cried, Now our wishes we gain,
For our children shall gather the fruits of our pain.

"Chorus"

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.

"Chorus"

References

External links

* [http://www.contemplator.com/america/liberty.html History of "The Liberty Song"]
* [http://www.dickinson.edu/news/features/2001/libertysong/ Dickinson College Choir singing "The Liberty Song" in 2001]
* [http://www.dickinson.edu/cnExtra/detail.cfm?71 Dickinson College press release on "The Liberty Song"]