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.

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.

Bastard Freedom waves
Her fustian flag in mockery over slaves.

Bastard Freedom waves
Her fustian flag in mockery over slaves.

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.

The imperial ensign; which, full high advanced,
Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind.

The imperial ensign; which, full high advanced,
Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind.

A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole,
It does not look likely to stir a man's soul.
read more

A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole,
It does not look likely to stir a man's soul.
'Tis the deeds that were done 'neath the moth-eaten rag,
When the pole was a staff, and the rag was a flag.

Hats off!
Along the street there comes
A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,
read more

Hats off!
Along the street there comes
A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,
A flash of color beneath the sky:
Hats off!
The flag is passing by.