1759, William Boyce and David Garrick
Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something new to this wonderful year;
To honour we call you, as freemen not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
Heart of Oak are our ships,
Jolly Tars are our men,
We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again.
We ne'er see our foes but we wish them to stay,
They never see us but they wish us away;
If they run, why we follow, and run them ashore,
For if they won't fight us, what can we do more?
They say they'll invade us, our terrible foes,
They'll frighten our women, our children, our beaus
But should their flat bottoms in darkness set oar,
Still Britons they'll find to receive them on shore
We still make them feel, and we still make them flee
and drub them ashore as we drub them at sea,
So come cheer up me lads, with one voice let us sing,
Our soldiers, our sailors, our statesmen, and king
Brittania triumphant, her ships sweep the sea,
Her standard is Justice -- her watchword, 'be free.’
Then cheer up, my lads, with one heart let us sing,
Our soldiers, our sailors, our statesmen, and king.
1768, John Dickinson
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 dishonor America's name.
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;
Through oceans to deserts for Freedom they came,
And dying, bequeath'd us their freedom and fame
How sweet are the labors that free men endure,
that men shall enjoy the sweet profit secure.
No more sweet labors Americans know,
If British shall reap what Americans sow.
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.
Swarms of placemen1 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.
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.
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.
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.
1 Placeman (plural placemen)(UK politics, derogatory) One appointed to an office, especially in government, as a reward for political or other support; an appointee, a yes-man.