The Stars and Stripes Forever - Lyrics - Tidmarsh's Additional Lyrics

Tidmarsh's Additional Lyrics

In 1942 the John Church Company published a four-part choral version of the march with a piano arrangement by Elmer A. Tidmarsh. This arrangement has additional lyrics (noted in italics below) written by Tidmarsh for the breakstrain.

Let martial note
In triumph float,
And liberty extend its mighty hand,
A flag appears
'Mid thund'rous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true,
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is Freedom's shield and hope.


Let eagle shriek
From lofty peak
The never-ending watchword of our land.
Let summer breeze
Waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.


Other nations may deem their flags the best,
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.


Other nations may deem their flags the best,
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.


Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day,
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might,
And by their right,
It waves forever.


For wherever strong men gather
(Freedom) Freedom is their song;
Both in war-time and in peace-time,
(Freedom) Freedom makes them strong.
We can never fail to keep this country free
If men will strive forever,
If we always strive with all our might for justice
She will fail us never.
Let us keep the stars and strips forever!
Let us keep them strong with firm endeavor!
Let us keep our honor, justice, faith, and courage, ringing through this happy land.




Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day,
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might,
And by their right,
It waves forever.