When the Warrior Returns

1805—Era & Topic: Tripolitan War

Written 9 years before “The Star-Spangled Banner,” this song by Francis Scott Key shows that he knew the melody and poetic form well. This song is the model for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The text here is taken from the earliest source, but was later slightly revised.

1. When the Warrior returns from the battle afar
         To the Home and the Country he nobly defended,
         Oh! warm be the welcome to gladden his ear,
         And loud be the joy that his perils are ended!
                 In the full tide of song, let his fame roll along
                 To the feast-flowing board let us gratefully throng.
                 Where mixt with the olive the laurel shall wave,
                 And form a bright wreath for the brow of the brave.
 
2. Columbians! a band of your brothers behold!
         Who claim their reward of thy hearts’ warm emotion,
         When your cause, when thy honor urg’d onward the bold,
         In vain frown’d the desert—in vain rag’d the ocean.
                 To a far distant shore—to the battle’s wild roar,
                 They rush’d, thy fair fame and thy rights to secure,
                 Then, mixt with the olive, the laurel shall wave,
                 And form a bright wreath for the brow of the brave.
 
3. In the conflict resistless, each toil they endur’d
         Till their foes fled dismay’d from the war’s desolation;
         And pale beam’d the Crescent, its splendor obscur’d
         By the light of the star-spangled flag of our nation,
                 Where each flaming star gleam’d a meteor of war,
                 And the turban’d heads bow’d to the terrible glare,
                 Then mixt with the olive the laurel shall wave,
                 And form a bright wreath for the brow of the brave.
 
4. Our fathers, who stand on the summit of fame,
         Shall exultingly hear, of their sons, the proud story,
         How their young bosoms glow’d with the patriot flame,
         How they fought, how they fell, in the blaze of their glory,
                 How triumphant they rode o’er the wandering flood,
                 And stain’d the blue waters with infidel blood;
                 How mixt with the olive the laurel did wave,
                 And form a bright wreath for the brows of the brave.
 
5. Then welcome the warrior return’d from afar,
         To the home and the country he so nobly defended,
         Let the thanks due to valor now gladden his ear,
         And loud be the joy that his perils are ended;
                 In the full tide of song, let his fame roll along,
                 To the feast-flowing board let us gratefully throng,
                 Where mixt with the olive the laurel shall wave,
                 And form a bright wreath for the brow of the brave.