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Columbia, Gem of the Ocean Lyrics
Composed by T. Becket & D. Shaw (c.1843)
O Columbia, the gem of the ocean,
The home of the brave and the free,
The shrine of each patriot's devotion,
A world offers homage to thee.
Thy mandates make heroes assemble,
When Liberty's form stands in view;
Thy banners make tyranny tremble,
When borne by the red, white, and blue!
When borne by the red, white, and blue!
When borne by the red, white, and blue!
Thy banners make tyranny tremble,
When borne by the red, white, and blue!
When war winged its wide desolations,
And threatened the land to deform,
The ark then of freedom's foundation,
Columbia, rode safe through the storm;
With the garlands of vict'ry about her,
When so proudly she bore her brave crew,
With her flag proudly floating before her,
The boast of the red, white, and blue!
The boast of the red, white, and blue!
The boast of the red, white, and blue!
With her flag proudly floating before her,
The boast of the red, white, and blue!
The star-spangled banner bring hither,
O'er Columbia's true sons let it wave;
May the wreaths they have won never wither,
Nor its stars cease to shine on the brave;
May the service united ne'er sever,
But hold to their colors so true;
The army and navy forever,
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!
The army and navy forever,
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!
Source: U.S. Army Song Book, 1918.
Note: The term Columbia was considered the female personification of Liberty, as represented by the new United States, and had derived from the name of the earlier great explorer Christopher Columbus.
