NA

Ode for the Opening of the World's Fair Held at Chicago, 1892.

I.
Over the wide, the wide unknown, far to the shores of Ind.
On through the dark, the dark alone, like a feather blown by the wind,
Into the west away, sped by the breath of God,
Into the west away, sped by the breath of God.
Into the west away, sped by the breath of God,
Seeking the clearer day where only His feet have trod
Seeking the day where only His feet, His feet have trod,

From the past to the future we sail, we slip from the leash of kings;
Hail! Hail! Hail! spirit of Freedom, Hail!
Hail! Hail! spirit of Freedom, Hail! Hail!
Hail! spirit of Freedom, Hail! spirit of Freedom, Hail!
Hail, unfurl thine impalpable wings, unfurl thine impalpable wings.

Receive us, protect us and bless thy knights who brave all for thee.
Receive us, protect us and bless thy knights who brave all for thee
Though death be thy soft caress by that touch shall our souls be free
Though death be thy soft caress by that touch shall our souls be free.

Hail! Hail! Hail! spirit of Freedom,
Hail! Hail! spirit of Freedom,
Hail! Hail! Hail, Hail spirit of Freedom. Hail!

Onward and ever on till the voice of despair is stilled,
Till the haven of peace is won and the purpose of God fulfilled.

II.
Columbia! Columbia, men beheld thee rise, a goddess from the misty sea,
Lady of hope sent from the skies, Lady of hope sent from the skies,
The nations worshipped Thee, the nations worshipped Thee,
Thy brows were flushed with dawn's first light,
By foamy waves with stars bedight
Thy blue robe floated free floated free.

Now let the sun ride high o'er head,
Driving the light from shore to shore,
His burning tread we do not dread
For thou art ever more,
His burning tread we do not dread
For thou art ever more

Lady of love whose smile shall bless
Whom brave deeds win to tenderness,
Whose tears the lost restore, the lost restore.

Lady of hope thou art, we wait with courage thy serene command
Through unknown seas toward undreamed fate, we ask thy guiding hand
On, though sails quiver in the gale,
Thou at the helm we cannot fail, on to God's time-veiled strand,
Thou at the helm we cannot fail, on to God's time-veiled strand.

Lady of beauty, thou shalt win
Glory and power and length of days;
The sun and moon shall be thy kin.
The stars shall sing thy praise;
Lady of joy, lady of beauty, lady of love all Hail!
Lady of joy, lady of beauty, lady of love, All Hail

Now onward, onward be thy ways now onward,
Lady of joy, lady of love, Hail! Lady of beauty, Hail!
Hail! Hail! lady of hope, now onward be thy ways
Now onward, onward thy ways.

III.
Lo, clan on clan,
Lo, clan on clan the world's brave nations gather to be ONE.
Clasp hands as brothers 'neath Columbia's shield,
Up raise her banner to the shining sun,
Clasp hands as brothers 'neath Columbia's shield,
Upraise, upraise her banner to the sun.

Along her blessed blessed shore,
One heart, one song, one song, one dream
Man shall be free forever more,
Man shall be free forever more and love shall be supreme

Along her blessed, blessed shore,
One heart, one song, one song one dream
Man shall be free forever more,
Man shall be free forever more,
Man shall be free forever more and love shall be supreme.

Upraise, upraise her banner to the shining sun,
Man shall be free forever more,
Man shall be free forever more,
Man shall be free, forever more

Along her blessed, blessed shore
One heart, one song, one song, one dream
Man shall be free forever more,
Man shall be free, forever more
Man shall be free, forever more and love shall be supreme forever more.