The CHANT OF LIBETY written by John H Brooking (UT3)

The Brookings are a diverse lot and you’ll find many authors,
artists etc, but only one composer that we know of and he only
wrote one known piece. John H Brooking was a Canadian farmhand
who was eager to receive a good education and eventually enrolled
at the University of Rochester where he graduated in 1867.
He wrote the Chant of Liberty during the Civil War and the lyrics
are all about freedom.  More can be learned about John H
in a forthcoming article in The Historian.

Click here to listen to an MP3 recording and sing along if you so desire:

	West ever west, taking my flight,
	Fleeing the empires where might is the right;
	O’er the sea foam, refuge and home
	Joyed I to find with Columbia so bright.
	Sister beloved cease to repine,
	Chides from above, a father divine,
	Pray that his rod, sealing the poor,
	Make but his love to thee lasting and sure.

	Joy, O! in joy, roamed I with thee,
	Star of the North-land, the hills of the free,
	Till o’er the prey, ‘mid the noon-day
	Roared forth the monster I shudder to see.
	Sister deplore, filled at his shrine,
	Bathed in their gore, warriors of thine;
	Nobly they fight, glorious they fall,
	Laurels of heroes shall honor them all.

	Rage, fiercely rage, maddened by hate.
	On to the North where the loyal await,
	Traitorous band, a mightier hand,
	Shall seize thee, o’erwhelm thee,
	And seal they dark fate.
	Sister adored, loudly rejoice, 
	Victory’s God, makes thee his choice,
	Close at thy side, forever I’ll be,
	Happy Columbia the Saint of the free.