Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean
Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean is een Amerikaans vaderlandslievend lied dat vooral populariteit genoot in de negentiende eeuw. Het lied werd als onofficieel volkslied gebruikt, samen met Hail, Columbia en The Star-Spangled Banner, tot dat laatste lied in 1931 tot het officiële volkslied van de Verenigde Staten werd uitgeroepen.

Columbia - hier gebruikt als de dichterlijke naam voor de Verenigde Staten - wordt in het lied bezongen als de edelsteen van de oceaan. Het lied werd voor het eerst gepubliceerd in 1843 en is gemaakt op de melodie van een ouder Brits lied Red, White and Blue.

Tekst
 O Columbia! the gem of the ocean,
 The home of the brave and the free,
 The shrine of each patriot's devotion,
 A world offers homage to thee;
 Thy mandates make heroes assemble,
 When Liberty's form stands in view;
 Thy banners make tyranny tremble, 
 When borne by the red, white, and blue,
 When borne by the red, white, and blue,
 When borne by the red, white, and blue,
 Thy banners make tyranny tremble,
 When borne by the red, white and blue.

 When war wing'd its wide desolation,
 And threaten'd the land to deform,'
 The ark then of freedom's foundation,
 Columbia rode safe thro' the storm;
 With her garlands of vict'ry around her,
 When so proudly she bore her brave crew;
 With her flag proudly floating before her,
 The boast of the red, white and blue,
 The boast of the red, white and blue,
 The boast of the red, white, and blue,
 With her flag proudly floating before her,
 The boast of the red, white and blue.

 The Union, the Union forever,
 Our glorious nation's sweet hymn,
 May the wreaths it has won never wither,
 Nor the stars of its glory grow dim, 
 May the service united ne'er sever,

 But they to their colors prove true? 
 The Army and Navy forever,
 Three cheers for the red, white, and blue,
 Three cheers for the red, white, and blue,
 Three cheers for the red, white, and blue,
 The Army and Navy for ever,
 Three cheers for the red, white and blue.

(alternatief derde couplet)

 The star spangled banner bring hither,
 O'er Columbia's true sons let it wave;
 May the wreaths they have won never wither,
 Nor its stars cease to shine on the brave.
 May thy service united ne'er sever,
 But hold to the colors so true;
 The army and navy forever,
 Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!
 Three cheers for the red, white, and blue! 
 The army and navy forever,
 Three cheers for the red, white, and blue

Externe links
Luister naar Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean
Bladmuziek uit circa 1862

Amerikaans volkslied
Soldatenlied