The Stars and Stripes Forever

Lyrics and Music: John Philip Sousa [Download the mp3]

Let martial note
In triumph float,
And liberty extend its mighty hand,
A flag appears,
’Mid thund’rous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true,
Its folds protect no tyrant crew,
The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom’s shield and hope.
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags,
The flag of Freedom’s nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free,
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The Banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor,
Proclaim’d as they march’d to the fray
That by their might,
And by their right,
It waves forever!

Let eagle shriek
From lofty peak,
The never-ending watchword of our land,
Let summer breeze
Waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
Oh, patriotic Sons!
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags,
The flag of Freedom’s nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free,
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The Banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor,
Proclaim’d as they march’d to the fray
That by their might,
And by their right,
It waves forever!