Jefferson and Liberty

by Leslie Fish

 

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!    (Never mind that he owned slaves himself)

"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!