JUBILEE SONGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 144, 20 June 1887, Page 5

JUBILEE SONGS.

By W. X, Wills. Hark to the boom of the mighty guns ! List to the millions, shouting in glee — Fathers- mothers—daughters, and sons, This is our good Queen's Jubilee ! Was that a cry of fear, or of dread ? A dying gasp ?—or a wail for the dead ? 'Tis only a child sobbing for bread ! Ah ! no, this cannot be— '

On the day of a Royal Jubilee ! Our churches embrace a thousand towns,

Our castles enchase the moor and lea, Cathedral-bells ringover the downs— -■ ■■--, This is our good Queen's Jubilee ! Was that a shape of man or of beast ?":' Did he come from; the! hell that lies in the

east? 'Tis only a starveling watching a feast J Ah.'! no, this dare not be On the day of a Royal Jubilee !

Our ships sail over the azure tide, ' Our ships return from a golden sea, Our nobles sing in their pomp and.pride, This is our good Queen's Jubilee !' Oh 1 tell me, what was that terrible moan— - That wretched cry on the cold, hard stone ? 'Tis only a pauper dying alone / • Ah, nol this dare riot bo On the day of a Royal Jubilee !

Hark to the boom of the mighty guns, And 0.! ye millions, shout in your glee— Fathers, mothers, daughters, and sons, This is our good Queen's Jubilee! Yet a lie rings out from the silver bells, By the Palace gate reek a thousand hells ! Ah ! deceit is drowned in the drunken;yells; Oh;! God,-'that this should be— : On the day of a Royal Jubilee.!■'■;,■■■. ■,-

' The following song, written and composed by Dr. Leger Erson, was sung by, that gentleman ,at :the sacred concert in the City Hall yesterday :—

Great Empress of a Thousand Isles, -' '• Grand Mistress of the Sea, ; i We children in far distant climes , ,-.. Our homage tender thee. .. J Though far, yet near, in bonds of love , Zealandia claims Great Britain's Queen— One racej one Tlirone, one God above, . Though severing Oceans roll between.

Then comrades in featly, we'll sing in •unity,' : ;• /. ;' ■'; T A To the.Que.en—God bless her! long may she reign ■' '.' '" .' '" O'er Britain's Empire and the azure main 1 ' ,' .

Proud Sovereign, in this Southern Zone, Of Britons strong and free, , - Zealandia hails,the Empress Throne .. ' . And'greets thy Jubilee. Long may'stthou reign, loved, gracious Queen! . , : ■ { v ':' * May coming years of joy ne'er oease Till God shall crown thy days serene, And bless thee with eternal peace, "...":

Then comrades in fealty, we'll sing in ■ unity ' ' ',:'". ■■■ ' ':'" To tho 'Queen—God' Mess her 1 long may eho reign ... '~./. O'ev Brittvifl's Empire and $9 ; 'aßuye main,

OUR GRACIOUS QUEEN. Our gracious Queen, our gracious Queen,

Upon whose Royal brow Old England's jewelled crown has been O'er.nfty summers now. We join with those whose hearts are true

As ever they have been, To bless the day old England saw ; Their own beloved Queen.

Our gracious Queen, our gracious Queen; Once she was young and fail. Nor ever thought as years rolled on That youth would yield to care, That she who wore the coronet And joyous days had seen Would be the pride of Britain's sons, Our own beloved Queen.

Our gracious Queen, our gracious Queen, Who now hath ruled so long, Would never deign to witness Her subjects suffer wrong. Her voice was heard, her laws went forth;

Justice has ever been The brightest jewel in the crown Of Britain's gracious Queen.

Our gracious Queen, our gracious Queen, Under her sceptre's sway The night of heathen darkness Has brightened into day. ' v Such commerce and prosperity J& ■ No nation e'er has seen %J As is enshrined in history's page *&', '■■.-^ Of our beloved Queen. /ufiti^l-

Our gracious Queen, our gracious Queerij She who hath ruled us long, To Jier we pledge fidelity, And raise our voice in song. V>.' Could prouder grow a nation's love ,£f; Than what it once has been, Each true-born Briton still will prove His love for Britain's Queen.

J. Carnahan. Auckland, June 20th, 1887.