Patriotism

Imagine standing with a pitchfork in one hand, and a rifle in the other. What is at stake? Freedom. Freedom from oppression. Freedom of speech. Freedom of Religion and so on. Any moment there could be those who would invade, pillage, capture and kill not only people, but the ideal that there could be a land where freedom rings. If victory is obtained, freedom avails. If there is loss, most would rather die than give them control. Many did, and now those who live in this great country know in person the freedom and purpose that is embodied within the lyrics o “My Country Tis of Thee.” written by Samuel Francis Smith, and using the melody that is the United Kingdom's national anthem, "God Save the Queen".

For these sacrifices, our heads are bowed in gratitude.

Until tomorrow...Why Say More?

My Country Tis of Thee

Lyrics

1

My country, 'tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From ev'ry mountainside

Let freedom ring!

2

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills,

Like that above.

3

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees

Sweet freedom's song;

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

The sound prolong.

4

Our fathers' God to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,

With freedom's holy light,

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God our King.

5 (added to celebrate Washington's Centennial)[4]

Our joyful hearts today,

Their grateful tribute pay,

Happy and free,

After our toils and fears,

After our blood and tears,

Strong with our hundred years,

O God, to Thee.

Additional verses by Henry van Dyke

6

We love thine inland seas,

Thy groves and giant trees,

Thy rolling plains;

Thy rivers' mighty sweep,

Thy mystic canyons deep,

Thy mountains wild and steep,--

All thy domains.

7

Thy silver Eastern strands,

Thy Golden Gate that stands

Fronting the West;

Thy flowery Southland fair,

Thy North's sweet, crystal air:

O Land beyond compare,

We love thee best!

Additional Abolitionist Lyrics 1843 A. G. Duncan Jarius Lincoln, [ed.] Antislavery Melodies: for The Friends of Freedom. Prepared for The Hingham Antislavery Society. Words by A. G. Duncan. (Hingham, [Mass.]: Elijah B. Gill, 1843), Hymn 17 6s & 4s (Tune – America.) pages 28–29. Some of these verses can be heard in the Arizona State University recording of the Antislavery Ensemble.

8

My country,' tis of thee,

Stronghold of slavery, of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Where men man’s rights deride,

From every mountainside thy deeds shall ring!

9

My native country, thee,

Where all men are born free, if white’s their skin;

I love thy hills and dales,

Thy mounts and pleasant vales;

But hate thy negro sales, as foulest sin.

10

Let wailing swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees the black man’s wrong;

Let every tongue awake;

Let bond and free partake;

Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

11

Our father’s God! to thee,

Author of Liberty, to thee we sing;

Soon may our land be bright,

With holy freedom’s right,

Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King.

12

It comes, the joyful day,

When tyranny’s proud sway, stern as the grave,

Shall to the ground be hurl’d,

And freedom’s flag, unfurl’d,

Shall wave throughout the world, O’er every slave.

13

Trump of glad jubilee!

Echo o’er land and sea freedom for all.

Let the glad tidings fly,

And every tribe reply,

“Glory to God on high,” at Slavery’s fall.