sousa john philip miscellaneous the stars and stripes forever let martial note in triumph float and liberty extend its mighty hand a flag appears mid thunderous cheers the banner of the western land the emblem of the brave and true its folds protect no tyrant crew the red and white and starry blue is freedom s shield and home other nations may deem their flags the best and cheer them with fervid elation but the flag of the north and south and west is the flag of flags the flag of freedom s nation hurrah for the flag of the free may it wave as our standard forever the gem of the land and the sea the banner of the right let despots remember the day when our fathers with mighty endeavor proclaimed as they marched to the fray that by their might and by their right it waves forever1