England! Whence came each glowing hue
That hints your flag of meteor light,--
The streaming red, the read more

England! Whence came each glowing hue
That hints your flag of meteor light,--
The streaming red, the deeper blue,
Crossed with the moonbeams' pearly white?
The blood, the bruise--the blue, the red--
Let Asia's groaning millions speak;
The white it tells of colour fled
From starving Erin's pallid cheek.

This is the song of the wind as it came,
Tossing the flags of the Nations to flame.

This is the song of the wind as it came,
Tossing the flags of the Nations to flame.

What is the flag of England? Ye have but my breath to dare,
Ye have but my waves to read more

What is the flag of England? Ye have but my breath to dare,
Ye have but my waves to conquer. Go forth, for it is there.

Under the sooty flag of Acheron,
Harpies and Hydras.

Under the sooty flag of Acheron,
Harpies and Hydras.

Under spreading ensigns moving nigh, in slow
But firm battalion.

Under spreading ensigns moving nigh, in slow
But firm battalion.

Flag of the free heart's hope and home!
By angel hands to valour given,
Thy stars have read more

Flag of the free heart's hope and home!
By angel hands to valour given,
Thy stars have lit the welkin dome;
And all thy hues were born in heaven.

"A song for our banner?"--The watchword recall
Which gave the Republic her station;
"United we stand--divided we read more

"A song for our banner?"--The watchword recall
Which gave the Republic her station;
"United we stand--divided we fall!"
It made and preserves us a nation!

The flag of our Union forever!

The flag of our Union forever!

United States, your banner wears
Two emblems--one of fame;
Alas! the other that it bears
read more

United States, your banner wears
Two emblems--one of fame;
Alas! the other that it bears
Reminds us of your shame.
Your banner's constellation types
White freedom with its stars,
But what's the meaning of the stripes?
They mean your negroes' scars.