Poem: “Old Ironsides” by Oliver Wendell Holmes

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1. Ay, tear the tat – tered en – sign down! Long has it waved on high,

2. Her deck, once red with he – roes’ blood, Where knelt the vanquished foe,

3. O bet – ter that her shat-tered hulk Should sink beneath the wave;

And many an eye has danced to see That ban – ner in the sky;

When winds were hurrying o’er the flood, And waves were white be – low,

Her thun – ders shook the might- y deep, And there should be her grave.

Be – neath it rung the bat – tle shout, And burst the can – non’s roar;—

No more shall feel the vic – tor’s tread. Or know the conquered knee;—

Nail to the mast her ho – ly flag, Set ev – ‘ry thread-bare sail,

The me – teor of the o – cean air Shall sweep the clouds no more!

The har – pies of the shore shall pluck The ea – gle of the sea!

And give her to the god of storms, The light – ning and the gale!

The me – teor of the o – cean air Shall sweep the clouds no more!

The har – pies of the shore shall pluck The ea – gle of the sea!

And give the god of storms, The light – ning and the gale!

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