Columbia, the gem of the ocean (Thomas à Becket)

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• (Posted 2010-04-16)  CPDL #21454:          (Sibelius 4)

Editor: Ashley Etzkorn (submitted 2010-04-16).   Score information: 18 x 25 cm, 1 page, 137 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean
Composer: Thomas à Becket

Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: Unison
Genre: Secular, Folksong, Patriotic music

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1917
Description: This song is of uncertain origin. In England it has been sung to the words "Britannia, the Pride of the Ocean" and the English claim that it originated in their country. In the United States, the authorship has been claimed by both David T. Shaw and Thomas à Becket.

External websites:

• Wikipedia article
• Information and original versions at the Library of Congress
• Civil War Music History

Original text and translations

English text

1.
O Columbia, the gem of the ocean,
The home of the brave and the free,
The shrine of each patriot's devotion,
A world offers homage to thee.
Thy mandates make heroes assemble,
When Liberty's form stands in view;
Thy banners make tyranny tremble,
When borne by the red, white, and blue!
Thy banners make tyranny tremble,
When borne by the red, white and blue!

2.
When war winged its wide desolation,
And threatened the land to deform
The ark then of freedom’s foundation,
Columbia rode thro’ the storm:
With her garlands of vict’ry around her,
When so proudly she bore her brave crew,
With her flag proudly floating before her
The boast of the red, white, and blue!
With her flag proudly floating before her
The boast of the red, white, and blue!
3.
The star spangled banner bring hither,
O’er Columbia’s true sons let it wave;
May the wreaths they have won never wither,
Nor its stars cease to shine on the brave:
May thy service, united ne’er sever,
But hold to their colors so true;
The army and navy forever,
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!
The army and navy forever,
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!