Notes for: July 14, 2026
As the country marks its 250th anniversary, there is no better way to experience the Revolutionary spirit than with this song that captures the patriotic fervor of the time. “Chester” has been called the unofficial anthem of the American Revolution. Written by the choral composer and patriot William Billings, a friend of Samuel Adams and Paul Revere, it was second only to “Yankee Doodle” in popularity throughout the colonies, sung in churches and pubs and adopted by the Continental Army as a marching song. Here in our own arrangement is the hymn-like song that inspired the colonists. In the spirit of celebration, if you like you can sing along, as colonists and soldiers did 250 years ago.
Let tyrants shake their iron rod,
And Slav’ry clank her galling chains,
We fear them not, we trust in God,
New England’s God forever reigns.
Howe and Burgoyne and Clinton too,
With Prescot and Cornwallis join’d,
Together plot our Overthrow,
In one Infernal league combin’d.
When God inspir’d us for the fight,
Their ranks were broke, their lines were forc’d,
Their ships were Shatter’d in our sight,
Or swiftly driven from our Coast.
The Foe comes on with haughty Stride;
Our troops advance with martial noise,
Their Vet’rans flee before our Youth,
And Gen’rals yield to beardless Boys.
What grateful Off’ring shall we bring?
What shall we render to the Lord?
Loud Halleluiahs let us Sing,
And praise his name on ev’ry Chord.