University of Virginia Library


131

“THE NEW AMERICA”—

My country 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Would I could sing;
Its land of pilgrim's pride
Also where lynched men died
With such upon her tide
Freedom can't reign.
My native country thee,
They would pronounce you free,
Thy name I love;
But when the lynchers rise
To slaughter human lives,
Thou closeth up thine eyes,
Thy God's above.
Let Negroes smell the breeze
So they can sing with ease
Sweet freedom's song;
Let justice reign supreme,
Let me be what they seem,
Break up that lynching screen,
Lay down all wrong.
Our Father's God to thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
How can our land be bright,
Can lynching be a light?
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King.