#277 - Hail Columbia

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• Composer:
  • Philip Phile, c1734-1793, 1789
• Title variations:
  • Hail! Columbia, Happy Land
• Also known as:
  • The President's March
• MIDI | show
  
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• Incipit: 1132151335431311213231334354531223543212321765555
• Condensed Incipit: 13215135431312132313435453123543212321765
• Lyrics:
  Hail Columbia, happy land!
  Hail, ye heroes, heav'n-born band,
  Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
  Who fought and bled in freedom's cause,
  And when the storm of war was gone
  Enjoy'd the peace your valor won.
  Let independence be our boast,
  Ever mindful what it cost;
  Ever grateful for the prize,
  Let its altar reach the skies.
  
  chorus:
  Firm, united let us be,
  Rallying round our liberty,
  As a band of brothers joined,
  Peace and safety we shall find.
  
  Immortal patriots, rise once more,
  Defend your rights, defend your shore!
  Let no rude foe, with impious hand,
  Let no rude foe, with impious hand,
  Invade the shrine where sacred lies
  Of toil and blood, the well-earned prize,
  While off'ring peace, sincere and just,
  In Heaven's we place a manly trust,
  That truth and justice will prevail,
  And every scheme of bondage fail.
  
  Behold the chief who now commands,
  Once more to serve his country stands.
  The rock on which the storm will break,
  The rock on which the storm will break,
  But armed in virtue, firm, and true,
  His hopes are fixed on Heav'n and you.
  When hope was sinking in dismay,
  When glooms obscured Columbia's day,
  His steady mind, from changes free,
  Resolved on death or liberty.
  
  Sound, sound the trump of fame,
  Let Washington's great fame
  Ring through the world with loud applause,
  Ring through the world with loud applause,
  Let ev'ry clime to freedom dear,
  Listen with a joyful ear,
  With equal skill, with God-like pow'r
  He governs in the fearful hour
  Of horrid war, or guides with ease
  The happier time of honest peace.
  
  
  • Joseph Hopkinson (1770-1842), 1798

Hail Columbia was used as an unofficial national anthem of the United States until 1931.