Emancipation Hymn of the West Indian Negroes. For the First of August Celebration
Praise we the Lord! let songs resound
To earth’s remotest shore!
Songs of thanksgiving, songs of praise—
For we are slaves no more.
Praise we the Lord! His power hath rent
The chains that held us long!
His voice is mighty, as of old,
And still His arm is strong.
Praise we the Lord! His wrath arose,
His arm our fetters broke;
The tyrant dropped the lash, and we
To liberty awoke!
Praise we the Lord! let holy songs
Rise from these happy isles!—
O! let us not unworthy prove,
On whom His bounty smiles.
And cease we not the fight of faith
Till all mankind be free;
Till mercy o’er the earth shall flow,
As waters o’er the sea.
Then shall indeed Messiah’s reign
Through all the world extend;
Then swords to ploughshares shall be turned,
And Heaven with earth shall blend.