"Uncle Joe's Hail Columbia" (1862)
Song and Chorus
Words and Music by Henry Clay Work

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The Act entitled "An Act for the release of certain persons
held to service or labor in the District of Columbia," has
this day been approved and signed.

Abraham Lincoln
Washington, April 16th, 1862
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1.
Uncle Joe comes home a singing,
    Hail, Columby!
Glorious times de Lord is bringin' --
    Now let me die.
Fling the chains into the ribber --
    Lay de burden by;
Dar is one who will delibber --
    Now let me die.

CHORUS
Ring de Bells in eb'ry steeple!
    Raise the Flag on high!
De Lord has come to Sabe the people --
    Now let me die.

2.
Bressed days, I lib to see dem,
    Hail Columby!
I hab drawn a breff of freedom --
    Now let me die.
Ninety years I bore the burden,
    Den he heard me cry;
Standin' on de banks ob Jordan --
    Now let me die.

(CHORUS)

3.
Dis is what the war was brought for,
    Hail, Columby!
Dis is what our faders fought for --
    Now let me die.
Dar's an end to all dis sorrow,
    Comin' by and by;
Prayin' for dat bressed morrow --
    Now let me die.

(CHORUS)

4.
I hab seen de rebels beaten,
    Hail Columby!
I Hab seen dar boots retreatin', --
    Now let me die.
O! dis Union can't be broken,
    Dar's no use to try;
No sech thing the Lord has spoken --
    Now let me die.

(CHORUS)

5.
I'll go home a singing "Glory!"
    Hail Columby!
Since I heard dis bressed story --
    Now let me die.
'Tis de ransom ob de nation,
    Drawing' now so nigh;
'Tis de day ob full salbation, --
    Now let me die.

(CHORUS)