Our flag is afloat on the breezes tonight,
Our country's dear colors float free,
And the cannon's deep throat peals the victory won,
By her brave sons in old Tennessee.
Our flag is afloat upon turret and spire,
Hung out by the loyal and true,
A nation's great heart at the sight of it beats,
For it floats at Fort Donaldson, too. Our flag is afloat, e'en where treason's dark sign
Has hung like a blot in the sky;
And traitors have found there are thousands who'll stand
By the flag of our country, or die.
Our banner is out upon turret and spire,
Hung out by the loyal and true,
A nation's great heart at the sight of it beats,
For it floats at Fort Donaldson, too. And music peals clear, through the gloaming tonight,
Its pæ an of triumph and pride;
But our hearts, beating high in their victory and hope,
Must sigh for the brave who have died.
Our flag is afloat upon turret and spire,
Hung out by the brave and the true,
A nation's great heart at the sight of it weeps,
For it floats o'er our fallen ones, too. Our march is still onward, for down where the sea
Breaks restless on Roanoke's strand,
The foul friends of treason our ensign must see,
By the breath of their own breezes fanned,
Our banner is out upon turret and spire,
Placed there by the loyal and true;
The heart of a nation beats high in its joy,
'T is floating at Roanoke, too. On, on to the Southward, till treason lies dead
On the soil that is black with its stain;
On, on, till each spot, from the Lakes to the Gulf,
Is bound in our Union again.
Our banner is out where have fallen the brave,
And unto the death were they true;
O'er Roanoke's Isle and Fort Henry it waves,
And now at Fort Donaldson, too.