Columbia, Gem of the Ocean

Cover of sheet music for a circa 1862 publication of "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean"

"Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" is a United States patriotic song which was popular in the 19th and early 20th century. It was used on occasion as an unofficial national anthem in competition with "Hail, Columbia" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" until the latter's formal adoption as the national anthem of the United States in 1931. For many years, Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean's melody was used as the Voice of America's interval signal. "Columbia" was commonly understood as a poetic name for the United States of America at the time. The song, as such, was first published in 1843, credited to T. Becket & D. Shaw. It was apparently a rewrite of a well known British tune entitled "Red, White, and Blue."

Lyrics

O Columbia! the gem of the ocean,

The home of the brave and the free,

The shrine of each patriot's devotion,

A world offers homage to thee;

Thy mandates make heroes assemble,

When Liberty's form stands in view;

Thy banners make tyranny tremble,

When borne by the red, white, and blue,

When borne by the red, white, and blue,

When borne by the red, white, and blue,

Thy banners make tyranny tremble,

When borne by the red, white and blue.

When war wing'd its wide desolation,

And threaten'd the land to deform,'

The ark then of freedom's foundation,

Columbia rode safe thro' the storm;

With her garlands of vict'ry around her,

When so proudly she bore her brave crew;

With her flag proudly floating before her,

The boast of the red, white and blue,

The boast of the red, white and blue,

The boast of the red, white, and blue,

With her flag proudly floating before her,

The boast of the red, white and blue.

The Union, the Union forever,

Our glorious nation's sweet hymn,

May the wreaths it has won never wither,

Nor the stars of its glory grow dim,

May the service united ne'er sever,

But they to their colors prove true?

The Army and Navy forever,

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue,

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue,

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue,

The Army and Navy for ever,

Three cheers for the red, white and blue.

(A slightly different third verse)

The star spangled banner bring hither,

O'er Columbia's true sons let it wave;

May the wreaths they have won never wither,

Nor its stars cease to shine on the brave.

May thy service united ne'er sever,

But hold to the colors so true;

The army and navy forever,

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!

The army and navy forever,

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue

External links

• "Columbia, the gem of the ocean" (MP3)
• Sheet music for a circa 1862 publication of "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean", from Project Gutenberg