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The Liberty Song est une chanson pré-américaine de la guerre d'indépendance avec des paroles du père fondateur John Dickinson[1] (et non par Mrs. Mercy Otis Warren de Plymouth, Massachusetts[2]). La chanson s'inspire des airs de Heart of Oak, l'hymne de la Royal Navy du Royaume-Uni. La chanson elle-même est publiée pour la première fois dans deux journaux coloniaux, le Pennsylvania Journal et la Pennsylvania Gazette, tous deux le 7 juillet 1768[3].
La chanson est considérée comme l'une des premières chansons patriotiques des treize colonies. Le sixième verset de Dickinson contient la plus ancienne publication connue de la phrase similaire à la devise united we stand, divided we fall (unis nous sommes, divisés nous tombons), un slogan patriotique qui apparait en bonne place à plusieurs reprises au cours de l'histoire des États-Unis.
La chanson est également susceptible d'être une variante de la chanson traditionnelle irlandaise dont elle tire souvent son air, Here a Health.[réf. nécessaire] Les paroles de The Liberty Song possèdent également la même structure.
Les paroles de la chanson sont mises à jour en 1770 pour refléter les tensions croissantes entre l'Angleterre et les colonies. Cette nouvelle version est publiée dans l'almanach de Bickerstaff, et son titre est en The Massachusetts Song of Liberty[4].
Version originale
Come, join hand in hand, brave Americans all,
And rouse your bold hearts at fair Liberty's call;
No tyrannous acts shall suppress your just claim,
Or stain with dishonor America's name.
- Refrain
In Freedom we're born and in Freedom we'll live
Our purses are ready. Steady, friends, steady;
Not as slaves, but as Freemen our money we'll give.
Our worthy forefathers, let's give them a cheer,
To climates unknown did courageously steer;
Threw' oceans to deserts for Freedom they came,
And dying, bequeath'd us their freedom and fame
- Refrain
How sweet are the labors that free men endur,
that men shall enjoy the sweet profit secure.
No more sweet labors americans know,
If brittash shall reap what americans sow.
- Refrain
Their generous bosoms all dangers despis'd,
So highly, so wisely, their Birthrights they priz'd;
We'll keep what they gave, we will piously keep,
Nor frustrate their toils on the land and the deep.
- Refrain
The tree their own hands had to Liberty rear'd;
They lived to behold growing strong and revered;
With transport they cried, « Now our wishes we gain,
For our children shall gather the fruits of our pain. »
- Refrain
Swarms of placemen and pensioners soon will appear
Like locusts deforming the charms of the year;
Suns vainly will rise, showers vainly descend,
If we are to drudge for what others shall defend.
- Refrain
Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all,
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall;
In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed,
For heaven approves of each generous deed.
- Refrain
All ages shall speak with amaze and applause,
Of the courage we'll show in support of our Laws;
To die we can bear, but to serve we disdain.
For shame is to Freedom more dreadful than pain.
- Refrain
This bumper I crown for our Sovereign's health,
And this for Britannia's glory and wealth;
That wealth and that glory immortal may be,
If She is but Just, and if we are but Free.
- Refrain
Version de 1770
Come swallow your bumpers, ye Tories, and roar,
That the sons of fair freedom are hampered once more;
But know that no cut-throats our spirits can tame,
Nor a host of oppressors shall smother the flame.
- Refrain
In Freedom we're born, and, like sons of the brave,
Will never surrender, But swear to defend her;
And scorn to survive, if unable to save.
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