Retinue and other poems / by Katharine Lee Bates [electronic text]

FREEDOM'S BATTLE-SONG

RED, white, blue, the flag that leads us on, Stripes as red as blood well shed by many a hero gone. Now 'tis ours to storm the towers of tyranny and wrong, Freedom's sons who front the guns with Freedom's battle-song. Fly the flag from dome and steeple, Fly the flag from home and school,

Flag of Freedom's birth, While we battle that the rule Of the people By the people For the people Shall prevail o'er all the earth.

Red, white, blue, the flag that leads us on, White as peace for whose release our fighting gear we don; Peace enchained, crushed, profaned, shall yet in beauty stand, Yet shall bless with fruitfulness her desolated land. Fly the flag from dome and steeple, Fly the flag from home and school, Flag of Freedom's birth While we battle that the rule Of the people By the people For the people Shall prevail o'er all the earth.

Red, white, blue, the flag that leads us on, Blue as skies whose starry eyes shall see our victory won. Freedom's sons and champions, to her our hearts are true, We who fight for Human Right, and the Red, White, Blue. Fly the flag from dome and steeple, Fly, the flag from home and school, Flag of Freedom's birth, While we battle that the rule Of the people By the people For the people Shall prevail o'er all the earth.