 | Original songs (1861) |  |
23
ORIGINAL SONGS FOR THE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.
24
COME, IF YOU DARE!
I
Come, if you dare, loud-vaunting foeman,Come, if you dare, to our Isles of the Sea!
Come, if you dare, soldier or yeoman;
We'll give you a welcome befitting the free.
Our rifles are ready, our aim shall be steady,
We'll show you the teeth of the wolf in its lair,
And give the full strength of you,
Graves the full length of you,
Yes, every man of you—Come, if you dare!
II
Come, if you dare, spearman or henchman,Come, if you dare, to our beautiful shore!
Come, if you dare, Tartar or Frenchman,
Many or few, you'll return nevermore!
One purpose shall fire us, one thought shall inspire us,
Each ball that we drive shall hit true to a hair;
We'll give the full strength of you,
Graves the full length of you,
Yes, every man of you—Come, if you dare!
C. M.
25
THE VOLUNTEERS' MARCH.
I
March together, Volunteers!March with rifles, swords, and spears!
March to drum or bugle-call!
March together, one and all!
Not for sake of name in story,
Not for sake of idle glory,
Not because ambition asks us,
Not because a tyrant tasks us!
March together, Volunteers!
March with rifles, swords, and spears!
March to drum or bugle-call!
March together, one and all!
II
March for freedom, nobly plann'd!March for home and native land!
March for honour clear as light!
March for justice, law, and right!
26
Not to spoil and rob another;
But with Truth and God to aid us,
Death to tyrants who'd invade us!
March together, Volunteers!
March with rifles, swords, and spears!
March to drum or bugle-call!
March together, one and all!
C. M.
27
UNDAUNTED MEN OF ENGLAND.
I
Undaunted men of England,They said our blood was cold,
That nothing more could rouse us
Except the love of gold;
That cent per cent, not freedom,
Was all our thought and aim,
And all the glory of our sires
The shadow of a name.
Shout forth the bold denial
With hearty British cheers,
And rifle crack that shall not slack,
Ye gallant Volunteers!
II
Undaunted men of England,If any foe alive
Be fool enough to think so,
Why, let him think and thrive!
30
To try us where we stand,
Each man shall be as good as three
To guard his native land.
Come one, come ten, come thousands!
Come million swords and spears!
Where ten shall come, not two shall go!
So say the Volunteers!
C. M.
31
UP WITH THE RIFLE.
I
He who is wealthyHath offers of gold,
He who is healthy
Hath blessings untold.
If mightful, you're rightful;
If weak, you are wrong;
Up with the rifle, lads,
March! and be strong.
II
England, the giant,Sits firm on her throne;
Calm and reliant,
And holding her own.
So thinking no evil,
And plotting no wrong,
Up with the rifle, lads,
March! and be strong.
32
III
Dreading no foeman,And courting no friend,
Scornful of no man,
We arm to defend
Our homesteads from plunder,
Our freedom from wrong—
Up with the rifle, lads,
Fire! and be strong.
C. M.
33
THE HIGHLANDERS' QUICK MARCH.
I
The Romans of old, when their flag was unfurl'd,Declared in their scorn they would conquer the world;
But in one little corner, undaunted and true,
Their flag never floated, their trumps never blew!
'Twas our Albyn the proud, 'twas our green Innisfail,
'Twas our old Caledonia, the land of the Gael;
And whether 'twere Roman or Saxon who came,
And thought to subdue her, the cry was the same:
“Quick march! quicker!
On them with a run!
Up with the claymore!
Smite them every one!”
On them with a run!
Up with the claymore!
Smite them every one!”
II
And that land we have sworn to defend evermore,With a spirit as brave as our fathers of yore:
34
We're as ready as they to be victors again.
In the garb of our mountains a phalanx we form,
As many as billows, yet one as the storm;
And if foemen invade us in battle array,
Let the slogan of old be the watchword to-day:
“Quick march! quicker!
On them with a run!
Up with the rifle!
Smite them every one!”
On them with a run!
Up with the rifle!
Smite them every one!”
C. M.
| Original songs (1861) | |