J. W. Hewlings, the author of this ballad “on the present critical times,” was a native of Nansemond, Virginia, where he died, in the early part of the year 1793.
American “Hearts of Oak”
COME rouse up my lads, and join this great cause,
In defence of your liberty, your property, and laws !
‘Tis to honor we call you, stand up for your right,
And ne’er let our foes say, we are put to the flight.
For so just is our cause, and so valiant our men,
We always are ready, steady boys, steady;
We’ll fight for our freedom again and again.
The Scotch politicians have laid a deep scheme,
By invading America to bring Charlie in;
And if the Scotch mist’s not remov’d from the throne, The crown’s not worth wearing, the kingdom’s undone.
The placemen, and commoners, have taken a bribe
To betray their own country, and the empire beside
And though the colonies stand condemned by some, There are no rebels here, but are traitors at home.
The arbitrary minister, he acts as he please,
He wounds our constitution, and breaks through our laws
His troops they are landed, his ships they are moor’d,
But boys all stand together, they will fall by the sword.
The great Magna Charta is wounded severe;
By accounts from the doctors, ’tis almost past cure.
Let’s defend it with the sword, or die with the braves,
For we had better die in freedom, than live and be slaves.
They tax us contrary to reason and right,
Expecting that we are not able to fight;
But to draw their troop home, I do think would be best, For Providence always defends the oppress’d.
The valiant Bostonians have enter’d the field,
And declare they will fall there before they will yield;
A noble example ! In them we’ll confide,
We’ll march to their town, stand or fall by their side.
An union through the colonies will ever remain,
And ministerial taxation will be but in vain,
For we are all resolvèd to die or be free
So they may repeal the acts, for repeal’d they must be.