Page:The Canadian soldiers' song book.djvu/13



Oh say, can you see by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose stripes and bright stars thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, bombs bursting in air, Gave us proof thro' the night that our flag was still there; Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly see thro' the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In glory reflected now shines in the stream; 'Tis the star-spangled banner—O, long may it wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

And where is that bard who so vauntingly swore 'Mid the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country they'd leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' polution No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave; And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

Oh thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation. Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heaven rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must when our cause it is just, And this be our motto "In God is our trust!" And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.