Wild mirth, groans and blasphemy mingle
As they sink, men, once true and brave.
A prayer too—some noble soul seeking,
His life and his honor to save.
As they sink, men, once true and brave.
A prayer too—some noble soul seeking,
His life and his honor to save.
Hear the moans of that heart broken mother
As a son is lured from her side;
And deaf all her entreaties,
Goes down in the rush of the tide.
As a son is lured from her side;
And deaf all her entreaties,
Goes down in the rush of the tide.
See the tears of innocent children,
Hear the sobs of widows—or, worse—
Those who cling to a husband and father
Held a slave, made a brute by the curse
Hear the sobs of widows—or, worse—
Those who cling to a husband and father
Held a slave, made a brute by the curse
Of the enemy clasped in our bosom,
With money and men at command;
Counting his victims by thousands,
And boasting his power in the land.
With money and men at command;
Counting his victims by thousands,
And boasting his power in the land.
Sadder far than the loss of the good ship
And the gallant crew of the Maine,
Is the wreck of eternity's life boats,
Is the army of crippled and slain.
And the gallant crew of the Maine,
Is the wreck of eternity's life boats,
Is the army of crippled and slain.
And these are our sons and our brothers,
Who fell by the drink Demon's hand.
Oh, how long shall this monster be pampered
On the virtue and the wealth of our land?
Who fell by the drink Demon's hand.
Oh, how long shall this monster be pampered
On the virtue and the wealth of our land?
48
