God Save the Flag!
WASHED in the blood of the brave and the blooming,
Snatched from the altars of insolent foes,
Burning with star-fires, but never consuming,
Flash its broad ribands of lily and rose.
Snatched from the altars of insolent foes,
Burning with star-fires, but never consuming,
Flash its broad ribands of lily and rose.
Vainly the prophets of Baäl would rend it,
Vainly his worshippers pray for its fall ;
Thousands have died for it, millions defend it,
Emblem of justice and mercy to all:
Vainly his worshippers pray for its fall ;
Thousands have died for it, millions defend it,
Emblem of justice and mercy to all:
Justice that reddens the sky with her terrors,
Mercy that comes with her white-handed train,
Soothing all passions, redeeming all errors,
Sheathing the sabre and breaking the chain.
Mercy that comes with her white-handed train,
Soothing all passions, redeeming all errors,
Sheathing the sabre and breaking the chain.
Borne on the deluge ol old usurpations,
Drifted our Ark o’er the desolate seas ;
This was the rainbow of hope to the nations,
Torn from the storm-cloud and flung to the breeze !
Drifted our Ark o’er the desolate seas ;
This was the rainbow of hope to the nations,
Torn from the storm-cloud and flung to the breeze !
God bless the Flag and its loyal defenders.
While its broad folds o'er the battle-field wave,
Till the dim star-wreath rekindle its splendors,
Washed from its stains in the blood of the brave !
While its broad folds o'er the battle-field wave,
Till the dim star-wreath rekindle its splendors,
Washed from its stains in the blood of the brave !