Freedom’s Land
Music by Fen Frehner, Text by Henry W. Roby, adapted
This is original music adapted from a text by Henry W. Roby from his collection, “The Suffrage Song Book”Background
In 1909, a book titled “The Suffrage Song Book” was published as a collection of 28 lyrics by Henry W. Roby, with the subtitle “Original Songs, Parodies, and Paraphrases, adapted to Popular Melodies” (such as “Battle Hymn of the Republic” – for 4 instances, and “Auld Lang Syne”). It was nice to find a man back then advocate for the cause of women’s rights. This song was written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 08/18/1920 ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in the US. Of note, Dr. Roby lived long enough for this right to be ratified - dying only a few days later, on 08/22/1920, but a few changes made to the text allow the song to represent not only the rights of women but also the rights of all, and the desire is for the song to be useful as a patriotic song going forward.
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Lyrics
1.From cradling seas and gleaming peaks,The spirit of fair freedom speaksAnd calls on all mankind todayTo follow where she leads the way.
ChorusOh, freedom’s land, sweet freedom’s land,As on thy highest peaks I stand,I see the bow of promise shineTo glorify this land of thine,With equal rights and equal lawsTo all who dwell with in freedom’s cause.
2.The yoke of tyranny and wrongShall fall from all who here be long,And all the world shall come to seeHow great a boon is liberty.
Chorus
3.Injustice shall no longer reignIn any land in God’s domain,And all the wrongs to mortals knownShall yet be wholly overthrown.
Chorus
4.Let frowning peaks and gleaming cragsProclaim by sunward flying flagsThat it is part of God's decreeThat all who live shall here be free.
Text: Henry W. Roby, from "The Suffrage Song Book”