FLAG OF THE SUNNY SOUTH
Melody by John Hill Hewitt
(1801-1890)
Lyrics by E. V. Sharp
Dedicated to the "Independent Soul that Never Courts a Smile, or Bends Beneath a Frown"

Hail, symbol of the Sunny South!
  Bright Banner of the free!
Our Southern hearts swell high with joy,
  When glory points to thee.
Thy Stars are like the Pleiades;
  Undim'd by Tyrant's power;
They'll deck thy Heav'n-dyed field of blue
  Till freedom's latest hour.

CHORUS:
Flag of the Sunny South, still wave,
  Where first from gloomy stars arose.
Thy dazzling lustre ne'er shall pale
  Where freedom's martyr'd sons repose.
 
Thou Emblem of our Liberty;
 Thy hallowed home is where
Dwell virtue, honor, beauty, too,
  Land of the Proud and Fair.
The breeze of ev'ry foreign land
  Beneath the sunlit skies
Shall gently fan thy gorg'ous folds,
  Each sea reveal thy dyes.

CHORUS
 
Over Secession's dying sons,
  Thou'st droop's thy blood-stained crest;
Witness'd the soldier's trembling prayer,
  Before he sunk to rest.
Thou'st flap'd away the weeping dews
  Where Washington now lies;
And mix'd with them thy gory tears
  Beneath his native skies.

CHORUS
 
Though dark'ning clouds are hast'ning past,
  And desolation reigns;
Though lonely homes in mourning stand,
  And innocence complains;
Yet Heav'n will heed our fervant prayers--
  Bid peace o'er land and sea--
Bid angels dry our lov'd ones tears,
  And freedom's sun light thee.

CHORUS

Songs of the Confederacy