Songs of '61: The First Gun is Fired

The First Gun is Fired

by George F. Root 

April 1861

The first gun is fired! 

may God protect the right!

Let the free-born sons of the North arise 

in power's avenging might

Shall the glorious Union our fathers made 

by ruthless hands be sundered?

And we of freedom's sacred right 

by trait'rous foes be plundered.

Chorus:

Arise; Arise; Arise! 

And gird ye for the fight,

And let our watchword ever be, 

May God protect the right.

The first gun is fired, 

By echoes thrill the land,

And the bounding hearts of the patriot throng, 

Now firmly take their stand;

We will bow no more to the tyrant few 

Who scorn our long forebearing,

But with Columbia's stars and stripes, 

We'll quench their trait'rous daring

The first gun is fired, 

Oh! heed the signal well,

And the thunder tone as it rolls along 

Shall sound opression's knell,

For the arm of freedom is mighty still, 

But strength shall fail us never,

The strength we'll give to our righteous cause 

And our glorious land forever!