The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #7340   Message #410866
Posted By: raredance
04-Mar-01 - 06:42 PM
Thread Name: US Natl Anthem: Other lyrics to tune?
Subject: Lyr Add: THE UNION MUST AND SHALL BE PRESERVED
Here's another text from early in the Civil War

THE UNION MUST AND SHALL BE PRESERVED
(tune: "Anacreon In Heaven")
from: "The Campfire Songster" (1862)

Oh!, say, can a thought so vile and base come
To the mind of a dweller on Columbia's soil,
That the work of our fathers should now be undone,
And unwound should now be the proud national coil?
And that traitors should sway and rule o'er this proud land,
With tyranny's lash, and the plunderer's brand!
No, never! Freemen, never! With the right, our arm nerved,
The Union it must and shall be preserved!

And though traitor may spring from 'mong kindred and friends,
Let them look to themselves, to the Union we're true;
If their hearts will prove false let its blood make amends,
And the stain we'll wash off while our hands we imbue!
Neither love of friends false or kindred shall save
Them the terror of flight, and the gloom of the grave;
Let them look to themselves, with the right our arm nerved,
The Union it must and shall be preserved!

If a son or a father prove false to the flag,
Then sever the tie with which nature has bound you,
And remember, though anguish your own heart may drag
To despair, that the love of your country has found you.
And whatever the issue be of this foul strife,
Be sure that it cost not fair Liberty's life.
The let traitors beware! With the righ our arm nerved,
The Union it must and shall be preserved!

Oh! Thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and fraternal blood spilling;
May they ever be guided, great God, by thy hand,
To obey thy just laws and commandments be willing,
And a prosperous nation we ever shall be,
With true love for our Country and full trust in thee.
Grant these blessings, Jehovah! With the right still us nerve,
While the Union we rush to uphold and preserve!

rich r