WHILE I rehearse my story, Americans give ear, Of Britain's fading glory you presently shall hear, I'll give a true relation, attend to what I say, Concerning the Taxation in North America. The cruel lords of Britain they glory in their shame, The project they have hit on they joyfully proclaim, 'Tis what they've striving after to take our rights away, To rob us of our charter in North America. There are two mighty speakers who rule in Parliament, Who always have been seekers some michief to invent, 'Twas North and Bute his father, this horrid plan did lay, A mighty tax to gather in North America. They search'd the gloomy regions of the infernal pit, To find amongst those regions one who excell'd in wit, To ask of him assistance to tell them how they may Subdue without resistance this North America. Old Satan, the arch traitor, resolv'd a voyage to make, Who rules sole navigator upon the burning lake, For the Britannic ocean he launches fast away, To land he had no notion in North America. He takes his seat in Britain, it was his sole intent, Great Georges throne to sit on and rule the Parliament, His comrads were pursuing a diabolic way For to complete the ruin of North America. They try'd the art of magic to bring their scheme about, At length the gloomy project was artfully found out, The plan was long indulg'd in a clandestine way, But lately was divulg'd in North America. These subtle arch combiners address'd the British court, All three were undersigners to this obscene report, There is a pleasant landscape that layeth far away, Beyond the wide Atlantic in North America. There is a wealthy people who sojourn in that land, Their churches all with steeples most delicately stand, Their houses like the lilly are painted red and gay, They flourish like the gilly in North America. Their land with milk and honey continually doth flow, The want of food and money they seldom ever know, They heap up golden treasure, they have no debts to pay, They spend their time in pleasure in North America. On turkey, fowl and fishes, most frequently they dine, With gold and silver dishes their tables always shine, They crown their feasts with butter, they eat and rise to play, In silks the ladies flutter in North America. With gold and silver laces they do themselves adorn, The ruby decks their faces refulgent as the morn, Wine sparkles in their glasses, they spend a happy day In merriment and dances in North America. Let not our suit affront you when we address your throne, O king this wealthy country, and subjects are your own, And you their lawful sovereign are, they truly must obey, You have a right to govern them in North America. O king you've heard the sequel of what we now prescribe, Is it not just and equal to tax this wealthy tribe? The question being ask'd, his Majesty did say, My subjects shall be taxed in North America. Invested with my warrants, my republicans shall go, The tenth of all their currents they shall on us bestow, If they indulge rebellion or from my precepts stray, I'll send my whole battallion to North America. I'll rally all my forces by water and by land, My light dragoons and horses shall go at my command, I'll burn both town and city, with smoke becloud the day, I'll shew no human pity in North America. Go on my hearty soldiers, you need no fear of ill, There is Hiveline and Rogers their functions will fulfil, They tell such ample stories, believe them sure we may, That one half will turn tories in North America. My gallant ships are ready to waft you o'er the flood, Then in my cause be steady which is supremely good, Go ravage, steal and plunder, and ours shall be the prey, They quickly will knock under in North America. The laws I have enacted I never will revoke, Altho' they are neglected, my fury to provoke, I will forbear to flatter, I rule with mighty sway, I take away the charter from North America. O George! you are distracted, by sad experience find, The laws you have enacted are of the blackest kind, I'll make a short digression and tell you by the way, We fear not your oppression in North America. Our fathers were distressed while in their native land, By tyrants were oppressed, as I do understand, For freedom and religion they were resolv'd to stray, And try the desert region of North America. If rightly I remember, this country to explore, They landed in November on Plymouth's desert shore, The savages were nettled, with fear they fled away, In peace our fathers settled this North America. We are their bold descendants, for liberty we'll fight, The claim to Independence we challenge as our right, 'Tis what kind heaven gave us, who then shall take away; Kind heaven too will save us in North America. We never will knock under, O George we do not fear, The rattling of your thunder nor lightning of your spear; Tho' rebels you declare us we are strangers to dismay, Therefore you cannot scare us in North America, To what you have commanded we never will consent, Altho' your troops are landed upon the continent, We'll take our swords and muskets and march in bright array, And drive the British rustics from North America. We have a bold commander who fears no sword or gun, A second Alexander, his name is Washington, His men are all collected and ready for the fray, To fight they are directed for North America. We've Green, and Gates, and Putnam, to manage in the field, A gallant train of footmen who rather die than yield, A noble band of Horsemen train'd in the martial way, For to augment our forces in North America. Proud George you are engaged all in a dirty cause, A cruel war have waged repugnant to all laws; Go tell the Savage nations you are crueller than they, To fight your own relations in North America. Ten millions you've demanded and twice ten millions more, Our riches you intended should pay the mighty score; Who now will stand your sponsor your charges to defray, For sure you cannot conquer this North America. I'll tell you George in metre if you'll attend a while, We've forced your Sir Peter from Sullivan's fair isle, At Monmouth town we gain'd the honors of the day, The victory obtain'd for North America. We truly were your betters hard by the Brandywine, We led him fast in fetters whose name was John Burgoyne, We'll make your Howes to tremble with terror and dismay, Free heroes we resemble in North America. Confusion to the tories that black infernal name, In which Great Britain glories forever to her shame, We'll send each foul revolter to smutty Africa, Or noose him in a halter in North America. A health to our brave footmen who handle sword and gun, To Warren, Gates and Putnam, and conquering Washington, Their fame is wrote in letters which never will decay, While sun and moon shall glitter in North America. Success unto the Congress of the United States, Who triumph in the conquests of Washington and Gates, To all both land and seamen who glory in the day When we shall all be freemen in North America. Success to Legislation, that rules with gentle hand, To trade and navigation by water and by land, May all with one opinion, our wholesome laws obey, Throughout the vast dominion of North America.