"Free America" by Dr. Joseph Warren
We led fair Freedom hither,
And lo, the desert smiled!
A paradise of pleasure
Was opened in the wild!
Your harvest, bold Americans,
No power shall snatch away!
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza,
For free America.
Torn from a world of tyrants,
Beneath this western sky,
We formed a new dominion,
A land of liberty:
The world shall own we're masters here;
Then hasten on the day:
Huzza, huzza, huzza, huzza,
For free America.
Lift up your hands, ye heroes,
And swear with proud disdain,
The wretch that would ensnare you,
Shall lay his snares in vain:
Should Europe empty all her force,
We'll meet her in array,
And fight and shout, and shout and fight
For North America.
Some future day shall crown us,
The masters of the main,
Our fleets shall speak in thunder
To England, France, and Spain;
And the nations over the ocean spread
Shall tremble and obey
The sons, the sons, the sons, the sons
Of brave America.
Songs were important during colonial times. People did not have access to as many forms of entertainment as we do today. Most people knew many songs by ear, and some popular tunes were often set to different lyrics. For example, the song "Free America" was written by Dr. Joseph Warren of Boston. He set the words to the well-known British tune "British Grenadiers." Joseph Warren became a Minuteman and died at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775.
The lyrics above come from the song "Free America." Read the words to the song carefully. Choose one word or phrase from the song that you think represents the main idea of the song. Explain how that word or phrase represents the most important idea. How do you think colonial Americans felt as they sang this song? What kind of effect do you think it had on relations with Britain?