Liberty Tree
A Song, written early in the American Revolution
Tune—The Gods of Greece
In a chariot of light, from the regions of day,
The Goddess of Liberty came,
Ten thousand celestials directed her way,
And hither conducted the dame.
A fair budding branch from the gardens above,
Where millions with millions agree,
She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love,
And the plant she named Liberty Tree.
The celestial exotic stuck deep in the ground,
Like a native it flourished and bore;
The fame of its fruit drew the nations around,
To seek out this peaceable shore.
Unmindful of names or distinctions they came,
For freemen like brothers agree;
With one spirit endured, they one friendship pursued,
And their temple was Liberty Tree.
Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old,
Their bread in contentment they ate,
Unvexed with the troubles of silver and gold,
The cares or the grand and the great.
With timber and tar they Old English supplied,
And support her power on the sea:
Her battles they fought, without getting a grout,
For the honor of Liberty Tree.
But hear, O ye swains(‘Tis a tale most profane),
How all the tyrannical powers,
Kings, Commons, and Lords, are uniting amain
To cut down the guardian of ours.
From the East to the West blow the trumpets to arms,
Thro’ the land let the sound of it flee:
Let the far and the near all unite with a cheer,
In defense of our Liberty Tree.
—Thomas Paine
In the early days of the American Revolution, in protest and solidarity, citizens gathered around a convenient tree to commiserate British taxes and oppressive law. A recent arrival to Pennsylvania from Britain, Thomas Paine wrote “Liberty Tree” which became popular with the colonists.
Some towns erected Liberty Poles to protest. Flags of all kinds sprang up and among them were flags with a “Liberty Tree” on them with the slogan “An Appeal to Heaven.” They were convinced their cause was just. The spirit of protest gave way to rage at times that exemplified an American trait.
Paine describes an America welcoming those escaping the Old World to come and share in the liberty enjoyed in the colonies— as long as they came in peace and friendship. The contrast between the Old world and the New was great. The Old was mired in poverty, corruption and misery. A newcomer to America found opportunity and the ability to start a new better life. Thomas Paine was such a newcomer.
“Thomas Paine’s Wisdom” will be highlighting Thomas Paine’s work here in these pages and attempt to show his wisdom is relevant today.
—Editor