WHILST I relate my story, Americans give ear, Of Britain's fading glory you presently shall hear; It is a true relation, attend to what I say, Concerning the taxation in North America.

The cruel Lords of Britain, who glory in their shame, The project they had hit on they joyfully proclaim; 'Tis what they're striving after to take our rights away, And rob us of our charter, in North America.

There are two mighty speakers that rule in Parliament, Who always have been seekers some mischief to invent; 'Twas North and Bute his father, a 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 legions 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 on the infernal lake, For the Britannic ocean he launched fast away, To land he had no notion in North America.

He'll take his seat in Britain, it was his soul's intent Great George's throne to sit on and rule the parliament; His comrades were pursuing a diabolic way, For to complete the ruin of North America.

They tried the art of magic to bring their schemes about, At length this gloomy project they artfully found out, The plan was long indulg'd in a clandestine way, But lately was divulged in North America.

These subtle arch designers address'd the British court, All three were undersigners of this obscure report, There is a pleasant landscape that lieth far away, Beyond the wide Atlantic in North America.

There is a wealthy people that sojourns in that land, Their churches all with steeples most delicately stand, Their houses like the tulip are painted red and gay, They flourish like the lily in North America.

Their land with milk and honey continually doth flow, The want of food or money they seldom ever know; They heap up gold and treasure, they have no debts to pay, They spend their time in pleasure in North America.

On turkey, fowls 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 silk the ladies flutter in North America.

With gold and silver laces they do themselves adorn, The rubies deck their faces refulgent as the morn; Wine sparkles in their glasses, they spend each happy day In merriment and dances in North America.

Let not our suit affront you when we address the throne, O king, this wealthy country and subjects are your own, And you their lawful sovereign they surely must obey, You have a right to govern this North America.

O king, conceive the sequel, from what we here prescribe, Is it not just and equal to tax this wealthy tribe? The question being asked, his Majesty did say, My subject shall be taxed in North America.

Invested with my warrant my publicans shall go, The tenth of all their current they surely shall betstow; If they indulge rebellion or from my precepts stray, I'll send my war battalions to North America.

I'll rally all my forces by water and by land, My light dragoons and horsemen shall go at my command; I'll burn both town and city, the smoke shall cloud the day, I'll shew no human pity in North America.

Go on, my hardy soldiers, you need not fear of ill, There's Hutchinson and Rogers, their function 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, it is supremely good! Go, ravage, steal and plunder, and yours shall be the prey, They quickly will knock under in North America.

The laws I have enacted I never will revoke, Although they are neglected my fury to provoke; I will forbear to flatter, but rule with mighty sway; I'll 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 we do understand; For freedom and religion they were resolv'd to stray, And try the desert regions of North America.

Heaven was their sole protector while on the raging tide, Kind fortune their director, and Providence their guide; If I am not mistaken, about the first of May, This voyage was undertaken for North America.

If rightly I remember, this country to explore, They landed in November on Plymouth's desert shore; The savages were frighten'd, 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, then who shall take away? Kind Heaven too can 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; Though rebels you declare us, we're strangers to dismay, Therefore you cannot scare us in North America.

To what you have commanded we never will consent, Although your troops are landed upon our continent; We'll take our swords and muskets and march in dread array, And drive the British red coats from North America.

We have a bold commander that fears not sword nor 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 Greene, we've Gates & Putnam to manage in the field, A gallant train of footmen who'd rather die than yield; A stately troop 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 you've waged repugnant to the laws; Go tell the savage nations you're crueler than they, To fight your own relations in North America.

I'll tell you, George, in metre, if you'll attend a while, We forced your sir Peter from Sullivan's fair isle; At Monmouth town we gained the honors of the day, A victory obtained in North America.

We truly were your betters hard by the Brandywine, We led him fast in fetters whose name was John Burgoyne, We made your Howe to tremble with terror and dismay, True heroes we resemble in North America.

Confusion to the tories, that black infernal name, In whom Great Britain glories, forever to their shame; We'll send each foul revolter to smutty Africa, Or noose them with a halter in North America.

Here's health to all our footmen that handle sword and gun, To Warren, Gates and Putnam, and conq'ring Washington, Their names are wrote in letters which never shall decay, Whilst sun and moon doth glitter in North America.

Success unto our allies, in Holland, France and Spain, Who arm'd their ships and gallies our freedom to maintain, May they subdue the rancor of proud Britannia, And drive them from their anchors in North America.

Success unto the Congress of these United States, Who triumph in the conquest 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 of one opinion our wholesome laws obey, Throughout the vast dominion of North America.