Classic Poem

Ye sons of France awake to glory,
Hark, hark what myriads bid you rise;
Your children, wives, and grandsires hoary,
Behold their tears, and hear their cries!
Behold their tears, and hear their cries!
Shall lawless tyrants, mischief breeding,
With hireling host, a ruffian band,
Affright and desolate the land,
While peace and liberty lie bleeding?

Chorus—
To arms, to arms, ye brave!
The patriot sword unsheath!
March on, march on, all hearts resolved
On liberty or death.
March on, march on, all hearts resolved
On liberty or death.

Now, now the dang'rous storm is rolling,
Which treach'rous kings confed'rate raise;
The dogs of war, let loose, are howling,
And lo! our walls and cities blaze!
And lo! our walls and cities blaze!
And shall we basely view the ruin,
While lawless force, with guilty stride,
Spreads desolation far and wide,
With crimes and blood his hands embruing?

Chorus—
To arms, to arms, ye brave! etc.

With luxury and pride surrounded,
The vile, insatiate despots dare,
Their thirst of gold and pow'r unbounded,
To mete and vend the light and air,
To mete and vend the light and air.
Like beasts of burden they would load us,
Like gods would bid their slaves adore,
But man is man—and who is more?
Then shall they longer lash and goad us?

Chorus—
To arms, to arms, ye brave! etc.

O Liberty! can man resign thee,
Once having felt thy glorious flame?
Can tyrants' bolts and bars confine thee,
And thus thy noble spirit tame?
And thus thy noble spirit tame?
Too long our country wept, bewailing
The blood-stain'd sword our conqu'rors wield;
But freedom is our sword and shield,
And all their arts are unavailing.

Chorus—
To arms, to arms, ye brave! etc.