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Chords and Lyrics for Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean

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Words and Music by Thomas a’Becket, Sr.

VERSE 1

    G           D          G 
O Columbia, the gem of the ocean,

    C                 A       D 
The home of the brave and the free,

                   A7          D 
The shrine of each patriot's devotion,

  G            A7        D 
A world offers homage to thee.

                  D7       G 
Thy mandates make heroes assemble,

                    C         D 
When Liberty's form stands in view;

    G                    C 
Thy banners make tyranny tremble,

     D7                           G 
When borne by the red, white, and blue,

D                                 G 
When borne by the red, white, and blue,

D                                 G 
When borne by the red, white, and blue,

                         C 
Thy banners make tyranny tremble,

     D7                           G 
When borne by the red, white, and blue.

VERSE 2

     G              D        G 
When war winged its wide desolation,

    C                   A    D 
And threatened the land to deform,

                A7            D 
The ark then of freedom's foundation,

  G            A7               D 
Columbia, rode safe through the storm;

                     D7       G 
With the garlands of vict'ry around her,

                         C         D 
When so proudly she bore her brave crew;

         G                       C 
With her flag proudly floating before her,

    D7                           G 
The boast of the red, white, and blue,

D                                G 
The boast of the red, white, and blue,

D                                G 
The boast of the red, white, and blue,

                                  C 
With her flag proudly floatting before her,

    D7                           G 
The boast of the red, white, and blue.

VERSE 3

    G             D            G 
The star-spangled banner bring hither,

       C                  A      D 
O'er Columbia's true sons let it wave;

                          A7        D 
May the wreaths they have won never wither,

        G              A7           D 
Nor its stars cease to shine on the brave.

                  D7           G 
May the service, united, ne'er sever,

                     C      D 
But hold to their colors so true;

    G                C 
The army and navy forever,

      D7                             G 
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue,

D                                    G 
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue,

D                                    G 
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue,

                     C 
The army and navy forever,

      D7                             G 
Three cheers for the red, white, and blue. 

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Chords

Below is a list of all the chords in this song. Click on a chord to learn how to play the chord on a particular instrument.

Instrument Chords
Banjo A Major A7 C Major D Major D7 G Major
Guitar A Major A7 C Major D Major D7 G Major
Mandolin A Major A7 C Major D Major D7 G Major
Piano A Major A7 C Major D Major D7 G Major
Ukulele A Major A7 C Major D Major D7 G Major