Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 1.
Frank Moore, Ed.

141. Bay State song.

They had sent word to us from Philadelphia that we could not pass through that city, (Baltimore,) but the Colonel made up his mind that we could; and so we did. * * * * You may depend upon it, that wherever we are ordered, we shall do our duty, and not make a blot on the records of Massachusetts. --letter from A private of the Sixth Regiment.

The cause of Baltimore is the cause of the whole South. --A. H. Stephens.

tune--“There is rest for the weary,” (with spirit.)

I.
     'Tis the Old Bay State a-coming,
With the Pine Tree waving high,
     Foremost where the fight is thickest,
Freedom still her battle-cry.
     From the rocky shore of Plymouth,
From the plains of Lexington,
     From beneath the shaft of Bunker,
Every hero sends a son.
     chorus — To the fray comes the Bay State!
Clear the way for the Bay State!
     Trust you may in the Bay State I
She will do, or die.

II.
     From our dear old Berkshire mountains,
From Cape Cod's sea-beaten sand,
     With one cry we rush to battle--
Freedom, and our Native Land!
     From the quiet graves of Concord,
Still as in our fathers' day,
     Where her country's need is greatest,
Massachusetts leads the way.
     chorus — To the fray, &c.

[118] III.
     Onward dash the Pine-Tree banner,
Where a threatened Senate calls,
     Ere a foe in Freedom's city
Desecrate her sacred halls.
     Where a son would strike a mother
With a traitor's stealthy blow,
     Forward, every loyal brother!
Fly to crush the dastard foe.
     chorus — To the fray, &c.

IV.
     Onward, then, our stainless banner,
Let it kiss the stripe and star,
     Till in weal and woe united
They forever wedded are.
     We will plant them by the river,
By the gulf and by the strand,
     Till they float, to float forever,
O'er a free, united land.
     chorus — To the fray, &c.

V.
     We have left the plough and anvil,
Left the ledger and the loom;
     Our shares to swords are beaten,
And our pen's the pen of doom.
     But we'll plough a deeper furrow,
And we'll deal a heavier blow,
     And upon the Nation's Ledger
We will strike the balance now.
     chorus — To the fray, &c.

VI.
     Lay the rails and build the engines,
O'er the stream the bridges throw;
     These are little Yankee notions
Yankees carry as they go.
     To the friends we leave behind us,
Oft we pledge a hearty health,
     And one prayer to God we offer--
Save the good old Commonwealth
     chorus — To the fray, &c.

VII.
     See an Adams and an Otis
Look from heaven to speed us on!
     Hear a Warren and a Prescott
Bid us keep the fields they won!
     See again Virginia's Patriot
Rise to bid Disunion stand!
     See the shade of Monticello
Strike again at Treason's hand!
     chorus — To the fray, &c.

VIII.
     Forward, then, the Pine-Tree banner!
Still as in our fathers' day,
     Where her country's need is greatest,
Massachusetts leads the way!
     By our brothers' blood still crying
From the streets of Baltimore,
     Let the foe — who struck behind them,
Be struck down for evermore.
     chorus — To the fray, &c.

IX.
     Now, the Stars and Stripes forever!
Be he cursed, each traitor son,
     Who assails the starry banner
And the flag of Washington!
     For Mount Vernon's sacred ashes
Will not rest within their bed,
     With a traitor band around it,
And a traitor flag o'erhead!
     chorus — To the fray comes the Bay State I
Clear the way for the Bay State!
     Trust you may in the Bay State!
She will do, or die.