I’m sitting quietly in my living room, listening to the booming and popping of firecrackers going off all around. The lightning bugs are putting on their own show in the backyard forest and I must say they are more beautiful and enchanting than any man-made firecracker. The past couple of July 4th’s have been spent in Colorado, and it feels a little strange to be at home on this day. I wasn’t planning on having an Independence Day post, but earlier this evening I watched Johnny Tremain (the 1957 Disney live-action). As the characters return from dumping the tea in the Boston Harbor, they sing a song (because it’s a Disney movie) called the Liberty Tree. This is actually the first American/patriotic song I can remember. It was on a record (yes, a record) my family had when I was very little called “Yankee Doodle Mickey”. Liberty Tree was my favorite. Since it’s a rather obscure song, I thought I’d post the lyrics here in honor of July 4th. If you’d like to hear the song, I noticed there are several youtube clips of the scene from the movie. And I recommend the movie too – it’s a noble look at the early events that spurred the colonies to independence and it includes a brilliant address on when and why we fight for freedom.
Plant the seed in our homeland, boys. Let it grow where all can see.
Feed it with our devotion, boys. Call it the Liberty Tree.
It’s a tall old Tree
And a strong old Tree
And we are the Sons
Yes, we are the Sons
The Sons of Liberty.
Save it from the storm, boys. Water down its roots with tea.
And the sun will always shine on the ole’ Liberty Tree.
It’s a tall old Tree
And a strong old Tree
And we are the Sons
Yes, we are the Sons
The Sons of Liberty.
March along with the piper, boys. We were born forever free.
Let’s go pay the piper, boys, beneath the Liberty Tree.
It’s a tall old Tree
And a strong old Tree
And we are the Sons
Yes, we are the Sons
The Sons of Liberty.
Pay the price they’re asking, boys. Always pay the tyrant’s fee.
Never give up the struggle, boys. Fight for the Liberty Tree.
It’s a tall old Tree
And a strong old Tree
And we are the Sons
Yes, we are the Sons
The Sons of Liberty.
Stand for the rights of man, boys. Stand against all tyranny.
Hang the lamps of freedom, boys, high on the Liberty Tree.
It’s a tall old Tree
And a strong old Tree
And we are the Sons
Yes, we are the Sons
The Sons of Liberty.
N’ it will grow as we grow, boys. It will be as strong as we.
We must cling to our faith, boys – faith in the Liberty Tree.
It’s a tall old Tree
And a strong old Tree
And we are the Sons
Yes, we are the Sons
The Sons of Liberty.
We are gifted with an incredible heritage. Our country’s origins are unique in that at our foundation is the belief in the inherent right of liberty and justice for all. It’s an ideal that is not fully realized and never has been. Indeed, our entire history as a nation has been one of grappling with the disconnect between this vision of righteousness and the reality of a broken world. On our own, we can’t achieve it, but a rule of absolute justice, righteousness, and mercy is coming. The ideals we struggle to realize now will be reality when God’s kingdom comes and His will is done on earth and in heaven. Until then, our call is to enter the struggle: to fight for righteousness, for justice, for an end to tyranny, to free the oppressed, and lift up the sorrowful. This is the legacy and the charge to all who would be sons of liberty.
Blessings to you,
Sarah
anordinarymiracleday 