Song of Marion's Men

    Our leader frank and bold；

    The British soldier trembles

    When Marion's name is told.

    Our fortress¹ is the good greenwood

    Our tent the cypress-tree；

    We know the forest round us

    As seamen² know the sea.

    We know its walls of thorny³ vines

    Its glades⁴ of reedy grass

    Its safe and silent islands

    Within the dark morass⁵.

    Woe⁶ to the English soldiery

    That little dread⁷ us near！

    On them shall light at midnight

    A strange and sudden fear：

    When waking to their tents on fire

    They grasp their arms in vain

    And they who stand to face us

    Are beat to earth again；

    And they who fly in terror deem

    A mighty⁸ host behind

    And hear the tramp of thousands

    Upon the hollow wind.

    Then sweet the hour that brings release

    From danger and from toil⁹；

    We talk the battle over

    And share the battle's spoil.

    The woodland rings with laugh and shout

    As if a hunt were up

    And woodland flowers are gathered

    To crown the soldier's cup.

    With merry songs we mock the wind

    That in the pine-top grieves

    And slumber¹⁰ long and sweetly

    On beds of oaken leaves.

    Well knows the fair and friendly moon

    The band that Marion leads—

    The glitter of their rifles

    The scampering¹¹ of their steeds.

    'T is life to guide the fiery¹² barb¹³

    Across the moonlit plain；

    'T is life to feel the night-wind

    That lifts his tossing mane.

    A moment in the British camp—

    A moment—and away

    Back to the pathless forest

    Before the peep of day.

    Grave men there are by broad Santee

    Grave men with hoary¹⁴ hairs；

    Their hearts are all with Marion

    For Marion are their prayers.

    And lovely ladies greet our band

    With kindliest welcoming

    With smiles like those of summer

    And tears like those of spring.

    For them we wear these trusty arms

    And lay them down no more

    Till we have driven the Briton

    Forever from our shore.