Old Iron Sides
Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!...........They are taking the ships flag down
Long has it waved on high,……………..It has been with the ship for so long
And many an eye has danced to see…………..Many people have seen the flag
That banner in the sky;………………………The flag on the USS Continental
Beneath it rung the battle shout,………………Beneath this flag on the ship there were battle cries
And burst the cannon’s roar; —………………………The cannons were fired
The meteor of the ocean air……………………The canons on the ship
Shall sweep the clouds no more ……………will no longer be fired
Her deck, once red with heroes’ blood ………….Many good lives were lost on the boats deck
Where knelt the vanquished foe,……………….The enemy was beaten
When winds were hurrying o’er the flood,………………. The boat sailed the winds in the sails
And waves were white below, ………………………..The waves were rough under the ship
No more shall feel the victor’s tread,……………The ship will no longer win battles
Or know the conquered knee; —……………………Or conquer
The harpies of the shore shall pluck…………..the winged spirits pull the boat back to the ocean
The eagle of the sea!...................................The boats home is the sea
Oh, better that her shattered hulk………………….The boat should not be disassembled
Should sink beneath the wave;…………………It should be sunk in the ocean
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,…………………Where she can be at home and remembered
And there should be her grave;……………………This is where she will rest
Nail to the mast her holy flag,………………….Where she belongs
Set every threadbare sail…………………They will raise her sails
And give her to the god of storms,………………………And let the ship stay on the ocean
The lightning and the gale!.................................and be with the seas winds and storms
Long has it waved on high,……………..It has been with the ship for so long
And many an eye has danced to see…………..Many people have seen the flag
That banner in the sky;………………………The flag on the USS Continental
Beneath it rung the battle shout,………………Beneath this flag on the ship there were battle cries
And burst the cannon’s roar; —………………………The cannons were fired
The meteor of the ocean air……………………The canons on the ship
Shall sweep the clouds no more ……………will no longer be fired
Her deck, once red with heroes’ blood ………….Many good lives were lost on the boats deck
Where knelt the vanquished foe,……………….The enemy was beaten
When winds were hurrying o’er the flood,………………. The boat sailed the winds in the sails
And waves were white below, ………………………..The waves were rough under the ship
No more shall feel the victor’s tread,……………The ship will no longer win battles
Or know the conquered knee; —……………………Or conquer
The harpies of the shore shall pluck…………..the winged spirits pull the boat back to the ocean
The eagle of the sea!...................................The boats home is the sea
Oh, better that her shattered hulk………………….The boat should not be disassembled
Should sink beneath the wave;…………………It should be sunk in the ocean
Her thunders shook the mighty deep,…………………Where she can be at home and remembered
And there should be her grave;……………………This is where she will rest
Nail to the mast her holy flag,………………….Where she belongs
Set every threadbare sail…………………They will raise her sails
And give her to the god of storms,………………………And let the ship stay on the ocean
The lightning and the gale!.................................and be with the seas winds and storms