Independence

by John Pierpont, in Boston, July 4th, 1822

Day of glory welcome day!

Freedom’s banners greet thy ray,

See, how cheerfully they play

With thy morning breeze.

On the rocks where pilgrims kneeled,

On the heights where squadrons wheeled

When a tyrant’s thunder pealed

O’er the trembling sea.

God of armies! did thy “stars”

In their courses smite his cars,

Blast his arm, and wrest his bars

From the heaving tide?

On our standard, lo! they burn,

And, when days like this return,

Sparkle o’er the soldier’s urn,

Who for freedom died.

God of peace! whose spirit fills

All the echoes of our hills,

All the murmurs of our rills,

Now the storm is o’er,

O, let freemen be our sons;

And let future Washingtons

Rise, to lead their valiant ones,

Till there’s war no more.

By the patriot’s hallowed rest,

By the warrior’s gory breast,

Never let our graves be pressed

By a despot’s throne;

By the pilgrims’ toils and cares,

By their battles and their prayers.

By their ashes, - let our heirs

Bow to Thee alone.

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