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Midi files that accompanied these articles can be found at Taylor's Traditional Tunebook
Archived September 19, 1998
As we celebrate another year of American Independence this month’s selection takes us back to the days of ’76. Americans have always been rather adept at taking old melodies and putting new words to them. One finds many versions of Yankee Doodle, The Girl I Left Behind Me, Derry Down, etc.
One such popular song during the American Revolution was British Grenadiers. The snappy melody version we know today is a variation of the original tune.
Obviously the colonists, who were in rebellion, couldn’t go around singing pro-British anthems. Instead they took the tune and penned new words. This month we are proud to present The Massachusetts Liberty Song or more commonly called today Free America. This is a delightful tune with cleaver lyrics. It is very appropriate to sing for our celebration of the Glorious Fourth. In order to make the song work rhythmically the last syllable of America is pronounced Kay.
| MASSACHUSETTS LIBERTY SONG |
| or |
| FREE AMERICA |
| 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 pow’r 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. |
| God bless this maiden climate, |
| And through its vast domain |
| May hosts of heroes cluster, |
| Who scorn to wear a chain; |
| And blast the vernal 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 fight and shout, |
| 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. |
Archived December 8, 1998
The following appeared in Vol.3 Issue 6.
One of the keys to America's victory in Mexico was the superiority of its artillery. One of the men responsible for this was Maj. Samuel Ringgold, who was mortally wounded at Palo Alto in May of 1846.
Our selection is taken from pages 90 - 91 of The Rough and Ready Songster. A copy of this book is located in the Garrett Collection of the University of Texas at Arlington.
Sung to the tune of "The Campbell's Are Coming".
Fire Away! |
The Song of Ringgold's Artillerists |
* * * |
| The Mexican bandits |
| Have crossed to our shore; |
| Our soil has been dyed |
| with our countrymen's gore. |
| The murders triumph, |
| Was theirs for a day-- |
| Our triumph is coming-- |
| So fire--fire away! |
| * * * |
| Be steady--be steady-- |
| And firm every hand-- |
| Pour your shot like a storm |
| On the murderous band. |
| On their flanks, on their center, |
| Our batteries play-- |
| And we sweep them like chaff, |
| As we fire--fire away! |
* * * |
| Lo! the smoke-wreaths uprising! |
| The belching flames tear |
| Wide gaps through the curtain, |
| Revealing despair. |
| Torn flutters their banner |
| No oriflamme gay: |
| They are wavering--sinking-- |
| So fire--fire away! |
| * * * |
| 'Tis over--the thunders |
| Have died on the gale-- |
| Of the wounded and vanquished |
| Hark! hark the wail! |
| Long the foreign invader |
| Shall mourn the day, |
| When Ringgold was summoned |
| To fire--fire away! |