"The Liberty Song" is a pre-

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

song with lyrics by

Founding Father The following list of national founding figures is a record, by country, of people who were credited with establishing a state. National founders are typically those who played an influential role in setting up the systems of governance, (i.e. ...

John Dickinson John Dickinson (November 13 Julian_calendar">/nowiki>Julian_calendar_November_2.html" ;"title="Julian_calendar.html" ;"title="/nowiki>Julian calendar">/nowiki>Julian calendar November 2">Julian_calendar.html" ;"title="/nowiki>Julian calendar" ...

(not by Mrs.

Mercy Otis Warren Mercy Otis Warren (September 14, eptember 25, New Style1728 – October 19, 1814) was an American activist poet, playwright, and pamphleteer during the American Revolution. During the years before the Revolution, she had published poems and pla ...

of Plymouth, Massachusetts). The song is set to the tunes of "

Heart of Oak "Heart of Oak" is the official march of the Royal Navy. It is also the official march of several Commonwealth navies, including the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy. It was also the official march of the Royal Australian Navy ...

", the anthem of the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. The song itself was first published in two colonial newspapers, the Pennsylvania Journal and the

Pennsylvania Gazette ''The Pennsylvania Gazette'' was one of the United States' most prominent newspapers from 1728 until 1800. In the several years leading up to the American Revolution the paper served as a voice for colonial opposition to British colonial rule, ...

, both on July 7, 1768.

History

The song is notable as one of the earliest patriotic songs in the

thirteen colonies The Thirteen Colonies, also known as the Thirteen British Colonies, the Thirteen American Colonies, or later as the United Colonies, were a group of Kingdom of Great Britain, British Colony, colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America. Fo ...

. Dickinson's sixth verse offers the earliest known publication of the phrase that parallels the motto "

united we stand, divided we fall "United we stand, divided we fall" is a phrase used in many different kinds of mottos, most often to inspire unity and collaboration. Its core concept lies in the collectivist notion that if individual members of a certain group with binding id ...

", a patriotic slogan that has prominently appeared several times throughout U.S. history. The song is also likely to be a variant of the Irish traditional song from which it often takes its tune, "

Here's a Health "Here's a Health to the Company" is an Irish traditional song, based in the long history of emigration from Scotland and Ireland. Its strong tune has also been used for other Irish traditional songs and for the American anthem, "The Liberty Song" ...

". The lyrics of "The Liberty Song" also hold the same structure. The lyrics of the song were updated in 1770 to reflect the growing tensions between England and the Colonies. This new version was published in Bickerstaff's almanac, and the title was changed to "The Massachusetts Song of Liberty". he History of American Music, (142) Louis C. Elson, 1904/ref>

Lyrics

Original Version 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 dishonour 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;
Threw' oceans to deserts for Freedom they came,
And dying, bequeath'd us their freedom and fame ''Chorus''
How sweet are the labours that free men endur,
that men shall enjoy the sweet profit secure.
No more sweet labors americans know,
If brittash shall reap what americans sow. ''Chorus'' Their generous bosoms all dangers despis'd,
So highly, so wisely, their ''Birthrights'' they priz'd;
We'll keep what they gave, we will piously keep,
Nor frustrate their toils on the land and the deep. ''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'' Swarms of

placemen In the political history of Britain, placemen were Members of Parliament who held paid office in the civil service, generally sinecures, simultaneously with their seat in the legislature. William and Mary Placemen exerted substantial influence ...

and pensioners soon will appear
Like locusts deforming the charms of the year;
Suns vainly will rise, showers vainly descend,
If we are to drudge for what others shall defend. ''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'' All ages shall speak with amaze and applause,
Of the courage we'll show in support of our Laws;
To die we can bear, but to serve we disdain.
For shame is to Freedom more dreadful than pain. ''Chorus'' This bumper I crown for our Sovereign's health,
And this for Britannia's glory and wealth;
That wealth and that glory immortal may be,
If She is but Just, and if we are but Free. ''Chorus'' 1770 Version Come swallow your bumpers, ye Tories, and roar,
That the sons of fair freedom are hampered once more;
But know that no cut-throats our spirits can tame,
Nor a host of oppressors shall smother the flame. ''Chorus:''
''In Freedom we're born, and, like sons of the brave,''
''Will never surrender, But swear to defend her;''
''And scorn to survive, if unable to save.''

References

The Liberty Song - 1768 link is no longer functional (September 7, 2014).

External links

History of "The Liberty Song"

{{DEFAULTSORT:Liberty Song, The American patriotic songs Dickinson College History of the Thirteen Colonies 1768 songs Songs of the American Revolutionary War Songs based on American history Songs about freedom