Free America

Composed to the tune of "British Grenadiers," the lyrics of this hymn were used to draw forth courage in American volunteer soldiers. The song is also called "A Song on Liberty." The song warns patriots not to let “Americay,” as its pronounced in the text, meet the sad fate of two proud civilizations from the past: “the seat of science, Athens” and “earth’s proud mistress, Rome.” The song also reminds us that Britain – called by her poetic name, “Albion” – has been defeated in the past, whereas Americans have never “fallen a prey.”

--Sheila Gaffney

Date: 1774Text: Joseph Warren

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Free America
by Joseph Warren

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.

Recordings

Music of the American Revolution

(Abraham Wood)

1996

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