Song of John Hawkins and Comrades

Hurrah! hurrah! we've burst the chain;
O God! how long it bound us!
We run! we leap! O God, again
Thy light, thy air surround us,
From midnight's dungeon depths brought
We hail hope's rising star;
Ho, comrades! give the stirring shout,
Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!


The world has kissed the tyrant's throne
The Beast! the Man of Sin!
"Legion!" "Apollyon!" better known
As Brandy, Beer, or Gin!
Roused up at Reason's clarion cry,
We go to holy war,
To slay the dragon, or to die!
Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!


Hurrah! hurrah! there's joy within,
Where all before was wo;
And sunk is passion's dreadful din,
And crush'd for aye 's the foe.
Yet one charge more, in glorious strife,
Stout hearts! to end the war;
'Tis done--our spoils! the babe!
Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!


Debased by drink, we'd lost the sign
Of manhood, God imprest,
The open face, the look divine
To show what He had blest.
Behold! erect! with honest brow,
Restored to Nature's law--
We're men! we're men! heaven knows us now,
Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!


Of ten men cleansed, did one return
To bless the healing hour?
All of our rescued thousands burn
To praise redeeming power.
Come! bless God now! and what for us
He's done--so reads the law--
We'll do for others! and the curse
Root out; hurrah! hurrah!


Hurrah! hurrah! we've burst the chain;
O God! how long it bound us!
We run! we leap! O God, again
Thy light, thy air surround us.
From midnight's dungeon-depths brought out,
We hail hope's rising star;
Ho, comrades! give the stirring shout,
Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!