History of Their Deeds Can Tell

Fourth of July Ode
James Russell Lowell
1892

I.
Our fathers fought for Liberty,
	They struggled long and well,
	History of their deeds can tell—
But did they leave us free?


II.
Are we free from vanity,
	Free from pride, and free from self,
	Free from love of power and pelf,
From everything that's beggarly?


III.
Are we free from stubborn will,
	From low hate and malice small,
	From opinion's tyrant thrall?
Are none of us our own slaves still?


IV.
Are we free to speak our thought,
	To be happy, and be poor,
	Free to enter Heaven's door,
To live and labor as we ought?


V.
Are we then made free at last
	From the fear of what men say,
	Free to reverence To-day,
Free from the slavery of the Past?


VI.
Our fathers fought for liberty,
	They struggled long and well,
	History of their deeds can tell—
But ourselvesmust set us free.