I’LL BE FREE! I’LL BE FREE!

Air—Sweet Afton.

I’ll be free! I’ll be free! and none shall confine

With fetters and chains this free spirit of mine;

From my youth have I vowed in my God to rely,

And despite the oppressor, gain Freedom or die.

Though my back is all torn by the merciless rod,

Yet firm is my trust in the right arm of God;

In his strength I’ll go forth, and forever will be

’Mong the hills of the North, where the bondman is free,

’Mong the hills of the North, where the bondman is free.

Let me go! let me go! to the land of the brave,

Where shackles must fall from the limbs of the Slave,

Where freedom’s proud eagle screams wild thro’ the sky,

And the sweet mountain-birds in glad notes reply.

I’ll flee to New England, where the fugitive finds

A home ’mid her mountains and deep forest winds,

And her hill-tops shall ring out the wrongs done to me,

Till responsive they sing, “Let the bondman go free.”

New England! New England! thrice blessed and free,

The poor hunted slave finds a shelter in thee,

Where no blood-thirsty hounds ever dare on his track,

At thy stern voice, New England! the monster fell back.

Go back! then, ye blood-hounds, that howl in my path,

In the land of New England I’m free from your wrath,

And the sons of the Pilgrims my deep scars shall see,

Till they cry with one voice, “Let the bondman go free.”

That voice shall roll on, ’mong the hills of the North,

In murmurs more loud till its thunders break forth;

On the wings of the wind shall its deep echoes fly,

Swift as lightning above, from sky e’en to sky,

Nor charters nor unions its mandates shall check,

’Twill cry, in God’s name, “Go break every yoke,”—

Like the tempests of Heaven, shaking mountain and sea,

Shall the North tell the South, “Let the bondman go free.”

Great God! hasten on the glad jubilee,

When my brother in bonds shall arise and be free;

And our blotted escutcheon be washed from its stains,

Now the scorn of the world—Three Millions in chains!

O! then shall Columbia’s proud flag be unfurled,

The glory of freemen, and pride of the world,

While earth’s strolling millions point hither in glee,

“To the land of the brave and the home of the free!”