The New Roof

A SONG FOR FEDERAL MECHANICS

I

Come muster, my lads, your mechanical tools,
Your saws and your axes, your hammers and rules;
Bring your mallets and planes, your level and line,
And plenty of pins of American pine:
For our roof we will raise, and our song still shall be,
Our government firm, and our citizens free.

II

Come, up with the plates , lay them firm on the wall,
Like the people at large, they’re the groundwork of all;
Examine them well, and see that they’re sound,
Let no rotten part in our building be found:
For our roof we will raise, and our song still shall be
A government firm, and our citizens free.

III

Now hand up the girders , lay each in his place,
Between them the joists , must divide all the space;
Like assemblymen these should lie level along,
Like girders , our senate prove loyal and strong:
For our roof we will raise, and our song still shall be
A government firm over citizens free.

IV

The rafters now frame; your king-posts and braces ,
And drive your pins home, to keep all in their places;
Let wisdom and strength in the fabric combine,
And your pins be all made of American pine:
For our roof we will raise, and our song still shall be,
A government firm over citizens free.

V

Our king-posts are judges ; how upright they stand,
Supporting the braces; the laws of the land:
The laws of the land, which divide right from wrong,
And strengthen the weak, by weak’ning the strong:
For our roof we will raise, and our song still shall be,
Laws equal and just, for a people that’s free.

VI

Up! up! with the rafters; each frame is a state:
How nobly they rise! their span, too, how great!
From the north to the south, o’er the whole they extend,
And rest on the walls, whilst the walls they defend:

For our roof we will raise, and our song still shall be
Combined in strength, yet as citizens free.

VII

Now enter the purlins , and drive your pins through;
And see that your joints are drawn home and all true.
The purlins will bind all the rafters together:
The strength of the whole shall defy wind and weather:
For our roof we will raise, and our song still shall be,
United as states, but as citizens free.

VIII

Come, raise up the turret; our glory and pride;
In the centre it stands, o’er the whole to preside:
The sons of Columbia shall view with delight
Its pillars, and arches, and towering height:
Our roof is now rais’d, and our song still shall be,
A federal head o’er a people that ‘s free.

IX

Huzza! my brave boys, our work is complete;
The world shall admire Columbia’s fair seat;
Its strength against tempest and time shall be proof,
And thousands shall come to dwell under our roof:
Whilst we drain the deep bowl, our toast still shall be,
Our government firm, and our citizens free.