Lyr Add: Free America / Free Americay

31 Mar 05 - 12:29 AM (#1447539)
Subject: ADD Version: Free America / Americay
From: Joe Offer

As I was exploring "British Grenadiers," I came across this version of "Free Americay," which has more verses that what we have in the Digital Tradition. Interesting song, I think.
-Joe Offer-

Free America
(Joseph Warren)
Tune: "British Grenadiers"

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.

We led fair Franklin hither,
And, lo! the desert smiled;
A paradise of pleasure
Was opened to the world
Your harvest, bold Americans,
No power shall snatch away!
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza
For 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 masters here
Then hasten on the day:
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza
For free America.

Proud Albion bowed to Caesar,
And numerous lords before;
To Picts, to Danes, to Normans,
And many masters more;
But we can boast, Americans,
We've never fallen a prey;
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza
For free America

God bless this maiden climate,
And through its vast domain
May hosts of heroes cluster,
Who scorn to wear a chain:
And blast the venal sycophant
That dares our rights betray;
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza
For free America.

Lift up your heads, ye heroes,
And swear with proud disdain
The wretch that would ensnare you
Shall lay his snares in vain;
Should Europe empty all her force,
We'll meet her in array,
And fight and shout, and shout and fight
For free America.

Some future day shall crown us
The masters of the main.
Our fleets shall speak in thunder
To England, France and Spain;
And the nations o'er the oceans spread
Shall tremble and obey
The sons, the sons, the sons, the sons
Of brave America.


source: Heart Songs: Melodies of Days Gone By, 1909

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Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on the song:

Free America

DESCRIPTION: "The seat of science, Athens, And earth's proud mistress Rome, Where now are all their glories?" The writer advises Americans to "guard their rights" and fight back against European tyranny.
AUTHOR: words: Joseph Warren?
EARLIEST DATE:
KEYWORDS: political patriotic freedom derivative
FOUND IN: US
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Arnett, pp. 14-15, "Free America" (1 text, 1 tune)
Spaeth-ReadWeep, pp. 14-16, "Free America" (1 text, 1 tune)
Botkin-NEFolklr, pp. 537-538, "Free America" (1 text, 1 tune)
Darling-NAS, pp. 337-338, "Free America(y)" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 284, "Free America" (1 text)
DT, FREEAMER*
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The British Grenadiers" (tune) and references there
File: Arn014

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2005 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

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The version in the Digital Tradition is from Songbook of the American Revolution, by Rabson

...perhaps I need to apologize to our British brothers and sisters for the jingoism expressed in this song. But heck, jingoism is the American Way.

-Jeo Offer-

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31 Mar 05 - 08:19 AM (#1447788)
Subject: RE: lyr: Free America (Free Americay)
From: Snuffy

And the nations o'er the oceans spread
Shall tremble and obey
The sons, the sons, the sons, the sons
Of brave America.

So world domination has been the agenda for the last couple of centuries? I thought it was a much more recent phenomenon.

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31 Mar 05 - 10:06 AM (#1447887)
Subject: RE: lyr: Free America (Free Americay)
From: EBarnacle

Oscar Brand also includes the song in his book, Songs of the American Revolution [title is approximate, as I cannot seem to locate my copy].

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