COLUMBIA THE GEM OF THE OCEAN
(Words & music: David T. Shaw (1843) / Arranged by T. A’Beckett)


O Columbia the gem of the ocean,
The home of the brave and the free,
The shrine of each patriot’s devotion,
A world offers homage to thee,
Thy mandates make heroes assemble,
When liberty’s form stands in view;
Thy Banners make tyranny tremble,
When born by the red, white and blue.

Refrain:
When born by the red, white and blue,
When born by the red, white and blue,
Thy Banners make tyranny tremble,
When born by the red, white and blue.

When war wing’d its wide desolation,
And threaten’d our land to deform,
The ark then of freedom’s foundation,
Columbia rode safe through the storm;
With her garlands of vict’ry around her,
When so proudly she bore her brave crew,
With her flag proudly floating before her,
The boast of the red, white and blue.

Refrain:
The boast of the red, white and blue,
The boast of the red, white and blue,
With her flag proudly floating before her,
The boast of the red, white and blue.

The wine-cup the wine-cup bring hither,
And fill you it true to the brim,
May the wreath’s that have won ne’er wither,
Nor the star of their glory grow dim,
May the service united ne’er sever,
But they to their colors prove true,
The army and navy forever,
Three cheers for the red, white and blue.

Refrain:
Three cheers for the red, white and blue,
Three cheers for the red, white and blue,
The army and navy forever,
Three cheers for the red, white and blue.



(Contributed by Bette - June 2004)