Come! to thine own heroic throng, That stalks with Liberty along, And give a new key to thy song,* Maryland! My Maryland! Dear Mother! burst the tyrant's Virginia should not call in vain, She meets her sisters on the plain: Arise in majesty again, Maryland! My Maryland! I see the blush upon thy cheek, But thou wast ever bravely meek, But lo! there surges forth a shriek Maryland! My Maryland! Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll, Maryland! Thou wilt not crook to his control, Maryland! The Star-Spangled Banner was written during the war of 1812 by Francis Key of Maryland. For dear the bondman holds his gifts The power to make his toiling days Another glow than sunset's fire Has filled the West with light, Where field and garner, barn, and byre Are blazing through the night. The land is wild with fear and hate, The flaming brand is passed. The lurid glow falls strong across Dark faces broad with smiles: Not theirs the terror, hate, and loss That fire yon blazing piles. I put some thoughts thet bothered me in rhyme: I hain't hed time to fairly try 'em on, But here they be—it's JONATHAN TO JOHN. IT don't seem hardly right, John, Thet's fit for you an' me!" Blood ain't so cool as ink, John; Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess He'd b'longed to ole J. B., Ef I turned mad dogs loose, John, Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess, "Thet, ef Vattell on his toes "Twould kind o' rile J. B., Who made the law thet hurts, John, Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess, For ganders with J. B., When your rights was our wrong, John, You didn't stop for fuss, Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess, |