AIR-” THE BRAVE OLD OAK”
A song to the men-the working men,
Who long in their chains have sighed,
‘Neath the usurer’s frown-and lord and Crown,
And the Churchman’s greedy pride.
There’s strength in our bands-and our fate’s in
our hands;
If we knew but to use our power,
The foul-class rule-of the knave and fool,
Needn’t last for a single hour.
Then down to the dust-with titled lust,
And down with the gold king vile,
For the world shall see-that we will be free,
And free be the sister-isle.*
In the days of old-when hearts beat bold,
To the flap of Freedom’s wing,
The dust at our feet-was the winding sheet,
That wrapt a headless king.
Are we happier now?-No! the millions bow,
‘Neath a yoke ten times more black:
Ten times more strong-we’ll march along,
And drive the vermin back.
Then down to the dust-with titled lust,
And down with the gold king vile,
For the world shall see-that we will be free,
And free be the sister-isle.
Do they think we’ll stand-with an idle hand,
And starve, while they gorge their fill?
They yet may wake-to their grand mistake,
And find there are men here still.
We seek not strife-and we value life,
But only when life is free;
And we’ll ne’er be slaves-to idle knaves,
Whatever the cost may be.
Then down to the dust-with titled lust,
And down with the fold king vile,
For the world shall see-that we will be free,
And free be the sister-isle.
(Ernest Jones)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, Life Poems, World Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Gold Poems, Power Poems, Pride Poems, Courage Poems, Liberty & Freedom Poems, Fool Poems, Idleness PoemsBased on Keywords: churchman, usurer, men-the, frown-and, sister-isle, see-that, strife-and, stand-with