Jefferson and Liberty

Via David

The night of fire is yet to come
The tyrant's shadow down the years
demands we kneel, or take the gun
And go shed blood instead of our tears

 So, rejoince, Columbia's sons, rejoice!
 To tyrants never bend the knee
 But lend your heart and hands and voice
 To Jefferson and liberty! 

"Every twenty years," he said
"The times are ripe and over-past
To raise rebellion's fiery head
And cast off tyranny's shel at last!"

 So, rejoice, Columbia's sons, rejoice!
 To tyrants never bend the knee
 But lend your heart and hands and voice
 To Jefferson and liberty!
 
No man is good nor wise enough
To rule another, or disown
The rights of every woman and man
To live and let live and be left alone

 So, rejoice, Columbia's sons, rejoice!
 To tyrants never bend the knee
 But lend your heart and hands and voice
 To Jefferson and liberty!
    
The starry banner that did fly
O'er freedom's bloodied barricades
Now flaps and fades in foreign skies
O'er palaces that empire made

 So, arise, Columbia's sons, arise!
 Arise that ye might yet be free!
 Cast off the forces that made lies
 Of Jefferson and liberty!
  
The world that once did turn and watch
The struggle for democracy
cries, "Have Columbia's sons forgotten
Jefferson and liberty?"

 So, arise, Columbia's sons, arise!
 Arise that ye might yet be free!
 Cast off the forces that made lies
 Of Jefferson and liberty!
    
But we, the heirs of Jefferson
Like ancient Sons of Liberty
Will bear indeed the rebel's gun
And never bow to tyranny!

 So, arise, Columbia's sons, arise!
 Arise that ye might yet be free!
 Cast off the forces that made lies
 Of Jefferson and liberty! 

 --Leslie Fish