On Freedom

Are over the rough rocks falling;Where fox, where bear, and catamount hide,In holes and dens In the mountain side,A Circuit-preacher once used to ride,And his name was Rufus Rawling.He was set in his ways and what was strange,If you argued with him he would not change,One could get nothing through him.Solemn and slow In style…

So he fell asleep with a troubled brainTo dream that he rode on a hell-bound train.The engine with murderous blood was dampAnd was brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp;An imp, for fuel, was shoveling bones,While the furnace rang with a thousand groans.The boiler was filled with lager beerAnd the devil himself was the engineer;The passengers…

In secret places most I seek to hide me,For he who feeds me never can abide me.

I saw three ships come sailing inOn Christmas day in the morning.And what was in those ships all three,On Christmas day, on Christmas day?And what was in those ships all three,On Christmas day in the morning?Our Saviour Christ and his lady,On Christmas day, on Christmas day;Our Saviour Christ and his lady,On Christmas day in the…

It can rouse the blood to battle with its patriotic tunes,And still render hymns as gentle as a prayer.When it starts ‘Ave Maria’ there is no one in the throngBut would doff his cap, his heart to heaven raise;And who would shrink from combat when, with brasses sounding strong,There is flung out on the breeze…

True sons of brave sires who battled of yore,When England’s proud lion ran wild on our shore!We’re coming, we’re coming, from mountain and glen,With hearts to do battle for freedom again;Oppression is trembling as trembled beforeThe slavery which fled from our fathers of yore.We’re coming, we’re coming, with banners unfurled,Our motto is FREEDOM, our country…