The American Flag

Float forth, thou flag of the free;
Flash far over land and sea,
Proud ensign of Liberty--
Hail, hail to thee!

The blue of the heavens is thine,
The stars on thy canvas shine;
Thy heraldry tells thee divine--
Hail, hail to thee!

Thy white proclaims thee unstain'd,
Thy crimson thy love unfeign'd
To man, by despots enchain'd--
Hail, hail to thee!

Under thy God-given light
Our fathers went forth to fight
'Gainst sceptred wrong for the right--
Hail, hail to thee!

The Lion of England no more
'Gainst thy proud Eagle shall roar:
Peace strideth from shore to shore--
Hail, hail to thee!

Float forth, thou flag of the free--
Flash far over land and sea,
Till the world shout, Liberty--
Hail, hail to thee!