Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean

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Melody - English?
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Thomas a Becket, 1843

O Columbia the gem of the ocean,
The home of the brave and the free,
The shrine of each patrol's devotion,
A world offers homage to thee.
They mandates make heroes assemble,
When Liberty's form stands in view;
Thy banners make tyranny tremble
When borne by the red, white, and blue!
Chorus:
|: When borne by the red, white, and blue! :|
Thy banners make tyranny tremble
When borne by the red, white, and blue! 		2. When war winged its wide desolation,
And threatened the 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!
Chorus:
|: The boast of the red, white, and blue! :|
With her flag proudly floating before her,
The boast of the red, white, and blue!
3. The star spangled banner bring hither,
O'er Columbia's true sons let it wave;
May the wreaths they have won never wither,
Nor its stars cease to shine on the brave.
May thy service united ne'er sever,
But hold to the colors so true;
The army and navy forever,
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!
Chorus:
|: Three cheers for the red, white, and blue! :|
The army and navy forever,
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!
The origin of this song is uncertain. The melody has been claimed as English, under the name of Britannia, the Pride of the Ocean. Thomas a Becket of the Chestnut Street Theater wrote the text for a benefit at the request of David T. Shaw. The date has been given by the latter as the fall of 1843. - From the Golden Book of Favorite Songs, 1915.

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