Hail America

This item is part of the I. G. Greer Folksong Collection which consists of more than 300 individual song titles and their variants as collected by Isaac Garfield Greer (1881-1967) from informants, primarily in Ashe, Wilkes and Watauga counties. The collection includes manuscripts, typescript transcriptions produced by Dr. Greer’s clerical staff, and handwritten musical notations. Songs range from traditional Child Ballads, traditional English and Scottish ballads as well as their American variants, to 19th century popular music to musical compositions of local origin.

Patriotic music--United States

United States--Songs and music

Patriotism--Songs and music

Liberty--Songs and music

AC.113 Isaac Garfield (I.G.) Greer Papers and Recordings

W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University

Greer, I. G. (Isaac Garfield), 1881-1967

PDF

English

Text

Hail America

Hail! America, hail! unriviled in fame,
Thy foes in confusion turn pale at thy name.
On thy rock-rooted virtue firmly seated sublime,
Below the thee break harmless the billows of time.
The striped flag shall wave still, and glory insure,
And freedom find ever a guardian in you.
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! for brave America, where freedom seems secures,
For a high car of crest, blazoned glory are yours.

Let Spain boast the treasures that grow in her mines,
Let Gallia rejoice in her olives and vines.
In bright-sparkling jewels let India prevail,
With her odors, Arabia perfume every gale
It is America alone that can boast of the soil,
Where the fair fruits of virtue and liberty smile.
Hurrah for Brave America, where freedom secures,
For the blessings of virtues and plenty are yours.

Our bosoms in rapture beat high at thy name,
Thy health is our transport-our triumph, they fame.
Like our sires, with our swords we will support thy renown.
What they bought with their blood we will defend with our own,
Smile, ye guardians of freedom—your brave sons in implore,
That America may flourish till time be no more.
Hurrah! for brave America, where freedom secures,
For the blessings of peace and large commerce are yours.

The muses to thee a glad tribute shall pay,
We flourish with freedom, with freedom decay.
Our hearts faintly murmur, or silently stand,
Should the sword of oppression again wave our our land.
Can the eagle soar high can she dart like the wind,
When her files are oppressed and her pinions confined?
Hurrah, for brave America, where freedom secures,
For a Bowdoin a Lincoln and Adams are yours.

With sweetness and beauty they daughters arise,
With rose-blooming cheeks and love-languishing eyes,
Haste ye graces, cries Jenus, to America repair,
Fit comforts for heroes the first of the fair.
For to whom should the blessings of freedom descend,
But to some of those sires who dared freedom defend?
Hurrah, for brave America, where freedom secures,
For a Hancock, a Franklin, and Washington, are yours.

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