The American Flag, Op. 102, B177 | Text

I. The Colors of the Flag

 

When Freedom, from her mountain height,

Unfurled her standard to the air,

She tore the azure robe of night,

And set the stars of glory there!

 

She mingled with its gorgeous dyes

The milky baldric of the skies,

And striped its pure celestial white

With streakings of the morning light.

 

Then, from his mansion in the sun,

She called her eagle-bearer down,

And gave into his mighty hand

The symbol of her chosen land!

 

 

II. Apostrophe to the Eagle

 

Majestic monarch of the cloud!

Who rear'st aloft thy regal form,

To hear the tempest-tramping loud,

And see the lightning-lances driven.

 

When stride the warriors of the storm,

And rolls the thunder-drum of heaven!

 

Child of the sun! to thee 'tis given

To guard the banner of the free,

To hover in the sulphur smoke,

To ward away the battle stroke.

 

And bid its blendings shine afar,

Like rainbows on the cloud of war,

The harbingers of victory!

 

 

III. First Apostrophe to the Flag

 

Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly,

The sign of hope and triumph high!

When speaks the signal-trumpet tone,

And the long line comes gleaming on.

 

Ere yet the life-blood, warm and wet,

Has dimmed the glist'ning bayonet,

Each soldier's eye shall brightly turn

To where thy meteor-glories burn,

 

And, as his springing steps advance,

Catch war and vengeance from the glance!

Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly,

The sign of hope and triumph high!

 

 

IV. Second Apostrophe to the Flag

 

And when the cannon-mouthings loud

Heave in wild wreaths the battle-shroud,

And gory sabres rise and fall,

Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall!

 

There shall thy victor-glances glow,

And cowering foes shall shrink beneath,

Each gallant arm that strikes below,

The lovely messenger of death.

 

 

V. Third Apostrophe to the Flag

 

Flag of the seas! on ocean's wave

Thy star shall glitter o'er the brave;

When Death, careering on the gale,

Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail,

And frighted waves rush wildly back

Before the broadside's reeling rack,

The dying wanderer of the sea

Shall look, at once, to heaven and thee,

And smile, to see thy splendors fly,

In triumph, o'er his closing eye.

 

 

VI. Finale - Prophetic

 

Flag of the free heart's hope and home,

By angel hands to valor given!

Thy stars have lit the welkin dome,

And all thy hues were born in heaven!

 

And fixed as yonder orb divine,

That saw thy bannered blaze unfurled,

Shall thy proud stars resplendent shine,

The guard and glory of the world!