13 Patriotic Songs

The Star Spangled Banner is undoubtedly one of the most appropriate songs for any patriotic holiday as it is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics of this song were written by Francis Scott Key during the Battle of Fort McHenry; Key’s ardent words record his account of the astounding defense of Fort McHenry and how the American Flag continued to fly throughout the attack in defiance of the audacious order by the British to take down the flag. This was a battle in which the odds were stacked in the favor of the British, yet despite all odds, and thanks to God, the Americans ultimately prevailed.

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,

What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight

O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket’s red glare, the bomb bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep

Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,

’Tis the star-spangled banner — O long may it wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,

That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion

A home and a Country should leave us no more?

Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand

Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!

Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land

Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,

And this be our motto — “In God is our trust,”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

America the Beautiful

America the Beautiful was written by Katherine Lee Bates in 1893. Inspired by her trip to Colorado and the scenery she witnessed on Pike’s Peak, Bates wrote the poem she titled Pike’s Peak, which then became the lyrics to the song America the Beautiful.

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern, impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness,

And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

My Country, ’Tis of Thee

As a seminary student in Massachusetts, Samuel Francis Smith wrote the lyrics of My Country, ’Tis of Thee in 1831. The song’s tune is the same as that of God Save the King — the national anthem of the United Kingdom. It is believed that Smith was unaware that the tune was already being used as the British National Anthem, however, this could have been another instance of America’s taking something from a former enemy and making it our own. Either way, the song speaks of nothing but a deep affection for the United States and our protector, God Almighty.

My Country, ’tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing:

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims’ pride,

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills

Like that above.

No more shall tyrants here

With haughty steps appear,

And soldier bands;

No more shall tyrants tread

Above the patriot dead —

No more our blood be shed

By alien hands.

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees

Sweet freedom’s song:

Let mortal tongues awake,

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

The sound prolong.

Our fathers’ God, to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing;

Long may our land be bright

With freedom’s holy light;

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God, our king.

Hail Columbia

This song’s music was written by Philip Phile in 1789 for the first inauguration of President George Washington; the song was given the title the President’s March. In 1798, Joseph Hopkinson arranged the song with the following lyrics and gave the song the name Hail Columbia (Columbia was a popular nickname for the United States). Hail Columbia gained popularity after the Quasi-War with France.

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 of what it cost;

Ever grateful for the prize,

Let its altar reach the skies.

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.

Firm, united let us be,

Rallying round our liberty,

As a band of brothers joined,

Peace and safety we shall find.

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.

Firm, united let us be,

Rallying round our liberty,

As a band of brothers joined,

Peace and safety we shall find.

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.

Firm, united let us be,

Rallying round our liberty,

As a band of brothers joined,

Peace and safety we shall find.

You’re a Grand Old Flag

This song was written in 1906 by George Cohan. Cohan was apparently inspired to write the song after encountering a veteran of the Battle of Gettysburg who showed Cohan a tattered, yet neatly folded, US flag.

There’s a feeling comes a-stealing,

And it sets my brain a-reeling,

When I’m list’ning to the music of a military band.

Any tune like “Yankee Doodle”

Simply sets me off my noodle,

It’s that patriotic something that no one can understand.

“Way down South, in the land of cotton,”

Melody untiring,

Ain’t that inspiring?

Hurrah! Hurrah! We’ll join the jubilee!

And that’s going some, for the Yankees, by gum!

Red, White, and Blue, I am for you!

Honest, you’re a grand old flag!

You’re a grand old flag,

You’re a high-flying flag,

And forever in peace may you wave.

You’re the emblem of the land I love,

The home of the free and the brave.

Ev’ry heart beats true

‘Neath the Red, White, and Blue,

Where there’s never a boast or brag.

But should auld acquaintance be forgot,

Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

I’m no cranky hanky panky,

I’m a dead square, honest Yankee,

And I’m mighty proud of that old flag that flies for Uncle Sam.

Though I don’t believe in raving

Ev’ry time I see it waving,

There’s a chill runs up my back that makes me glad I’m what I am.

Here’s a land with a million soldiers,

That’s if we should need ‘em,

We’ll fight for freedom!

Hurrah! Hurrah! For ev’ry Yankee Tar,

And old G.A.R., ev’ry stripe, ev’ry star.

Red, White, and Blue, hats off to you!

Honest, you’re a grand old flag!

You’re a grand old flag,

You’re a high-flying flag,

And forever in peace may you wave.

You’re the emblem of the land I love,

The home of the free and the brave.

Ev’ry heart beats true

‘Neath the Red, White, and Blue,

Where there’s never a boast or brag.

But should auld acquaintance be forgot,

Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

God Bless America

God Bless America was originally written in 1918 by Irving Berlin, only to be forgotten. In 1938, Berlin slightly revised the song and it quickly gained popularity across the nation, just as the world was on the brink of a second world war.

God Bless America is still copyrighted. If you wish to view the lyrics, I have provided a link to the lyrics on Wikipedia.

Rise Columbia

This song is often said to have been written by Robert Treat Paine Jr. in 1798 for the fourth anniversary of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society. The song was even used in 1800 for John Adams’ presidential campaign.

When first the sun o’er ocean glow’d,

And earth unveil’d her virgin breast,

Supreme mid nature’s vast abode,

Was heard the Almighty’s dread behest:

Rise, Columbia! Columbia, brave and free,

Poise the globe and bound the sea!

In darkness wrapp’d, with fetters chain’d,

Will ages grope, debased and blind;

With blood the human hand be stain’d,

With tyrant power, the human mind.

Rise, Columbia! Columbia, brave and free,

Poise the globe and bound the sea!

But, lo! across the Atlantic floods

The star-directed pilgrim sails;

See! fell’d by Commerce, float thy woods;

And clothed by Ceres, wave thy vales!

Rise, Columbia! Columbia, brave and free,

Poise the globe and bound the sea!

In vain shall thrones, in arms combined,

The sacred rights I gave, oppose;

In thee, the asylum of mankind,

Shall welcome nations find repose.

Rise, Columbia! Columbia, brave and free,

Poise the globe and bound the sea!

Nor yet, though skill’d, delight in arms;

Peace, and her offspring Arts, be thine:

The face of Freedom scarce has charms,

When, on her cheeks, no dimples shine.

Rise, Columbia! Columbia, brave and free,

Poise the globe and bound the sea!

While Fame, for thee, her wreath entwines,

To bless, thy nobler triumphs prove;

And though the eagle haunts thy pines,

Beneath thy willows shield the dove.

Rise, Columbia! Columbia, brave and free,

Poise the globe and bound the sea!

When bolts the flame, or whelms the wave,

Be thine to rule the wayward hour:

Bid death unbar the watery grave,

And Vulcan yield to Neptune’s power.

Rise, Columbia! Columbia, brave and free,

Poise the globe and bound the sea!

Revered in arms, in peace humane:

No shore nor realm shall bound thy sway,

While all the virtues own thy reign,

And subject elements obey!

Rise, Columbia! Columbia, brave and free,

Bless the globe, and rule the sea!

Yankee Doodle

Around the year 1755, Yankee Doodle was written by a British physician during the French and Indian War to ridicule the Colonists who were allies of the British at the time. The word yankee was originally used by the British to mock the Scottish, which they then applied to the Colonists, but rather than being offended, the Colonists adopted the song, making it patriotic. Yankee Doodle is even the official state song of Connecticut.

There are many verses and versions of Yankee Doodle, written by both the British and the Americans, but I have only included a couple of the most well known verses.

Yankee Doodle went to town

A-riding on a pony,

Stuck a feather in his cap

And called it macaroni.

Yankee Doodle keep it up,

Yankee Doodle dandy,

Mind the music and the step,

And with the girls be handy.

Father and I went down to camp,

Along with Captain Gooding,

And there we saw the men and boys

As thick as hasty pudding.

Yankee Doodle keep it up,

Yankee Doodle dandy,

Mind the music and the step,

And with the girls be handy.

Free America

Free America, which was also called a Song on Liberty, was written by Doctor Joseph Warren in 1774 in gallant protest of British tyranny, which was later set to the tune of the British Grenadiers song. Warren gave his life for his country after voluntarily defending the American retreat during the Battle of Bunker Hill; Warren has since been known as the Founding Martyr.

That seat of science Athens,

And earth’s proud mistress, Rome,

Where now are all their glories

We scarce can find a tomb.

Then guard your rights, Americans,

Nor stoop to lawless sway,

Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose

For North Americay.

Proud Albion bow’d to Caesar,

And numerous lords before,

To Picts, to Danes, to Normans,

And many masters more;

But we can boast Americans

Have never fall’n a prey,

Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza

For Free Americay.

We led fair Freedom hither,

And lo, the desert smiled,

A paradise of pleasure

New opened in the wild;

Your harvest, bold Americans,

No power shall snatch away,

Preserve, preserve, preserve your rights

In Free Americay.

Torn from a world of tyrants

Beneath this western sky

We formed a new dominion,

A land of liberty;

The world shall own we’re freemen here,

And such will ever be,

Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza

For love and liberty.

God bless this maiden climate,

And through her vast domain

May hosts of heroes cluster

Who scorn to wear a chain.

And blast the venal sycophants

Who dare our rights betray;

Assert yourselves, yourselves, yourselves

For brave Americay.

Lift up your hearts, my heroes,

And swear with proud disdain,

The wretch that would ensnare you

Shall spread his net in vain;

Should Europe empty all her force,

We’d meet them in array,

And shout huzza, huzza, huzza

For brave Americay.

The land where freedom reigns shall still

Be the masters of the main,

In giving laws and freedom

To subject France and Spain;

And all the isles o’er ocean spread

Shall tremble and obey,

The prince who rules by Freedom’s laws

In North Americay.

Chester

This song was composed by William Billings and first published in his 1770 songbook, the New England Psalm Singer. Billings made improvements to the song with his 1778 version, which he published in the Singing Master’s Assistant.

Let tyrants shake their iron rod,

And Slav’ry clank her galling chains,

We fear them not, we trust in God,

New England’s God forever reigns.

Howe and Burgoyne and Clinton too,

With Prescot and Cornwallis join’d,

Together plot our Overthrow,

In one Infernal league combin’d.

When God inspir’d us for the fight,

Their ranks were broke, their lines were forc’d,

Their ships were Shatter’d in our sight,

Or swiftly driven from our Coast.

The Foe comes on with haughty Stride;

Our troops advance with martial noise,

Their Vet’rans flee before our Youth,

And Gen’rals yield to beardless Boys.

What grateful Off’ring shall we bring?

What shall we render to the Lord?

Loud Halleluiahs let us Sing,

And praise his name on ev’ry Chord.

Bunker Hill

New England Minister Nathaniel Niles wrote Bunker Hill after hearing the news of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Niles wrote a poem that he called the American Hero, which urged Americans to be prepared to die for their freedom. Niles’ poem was adapted into a song soon after, which became known as Bunker Hill.

Why should vain mortals tremble at the sight of

Death and destruction, in the field of battle,

Where blood and carnage clothe the ground in crimson,

Sounding with death groans.

Death will invade us by the means appointed

And we must all bow to the King of Terrors

Nor am I anxious, if I am prepared

What shape he comes in.

Infinite goodness teaches us submission

Bids us be quiet under all His dealings

Never repining but forever praising

God, our Creator.

Good is Jehovah in bestowing sunshine

Nor less His goodness in the storm and thunder

Mercies and judgments both proceed from kindness

Infinite kindness.

Then to the wisdom of my Lord and Master

I will commit all that I have or wish for

Sweetly as babes sleep will I give my life up

When called to yield it.

Let oceans waft on all your floating castles

Fraught with destruction, horrible to nature

Then, with your sails filled by a storm of vengeance

Bear down to battle!

Fame and dear freedom lure me on to battle

While a fell despot, grimmer than a death’s head

Stings me with serpents fiercer than Medusa’s

To the encounter.

Life, for my country and the cause of freedom

Is but a trifle for a worm to part with

And if preserved in so great a contest

Life is redoubled.

God Bless the USA

While this song is much more modern than many of the previously listed songs, I feel that God Bless the USA is a timeless song that belongs on every patriotic music list. Inspired by his experiences while traveling across the United States, Lee Greenwood reportedly wrote the song in his tour bus in 1983.

Because this song is copyrighted, you will need to use this link to view the lyrics.

Ballad of the Green Mountain Boys