Public Domain Patriotic Songs
IMPORTANT: This list is based on USA Copyright Law and is intended only as a help in researching public domain materials. This list is NOT sufficient documentation that music is in the Public Domain. To prove public domain status in the USA, you MUST find a published copy of the song with a copyright date of 1922 or earlier. Most PD works have arrangements under copyright protection, and new arrangements must be derived from a PD source. PD status is determined by the laws of the country where the music is used.
~~~ What Is a PD Reprint?
| Title |
D=Date-Author V=Verse C=Chorus T=Tune |
PD Reprints |
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Star Spangled Banner |
D: w. 1814 Francis Scott Key (1780-1843), m. British Drinking Song
V: O ! say can you see by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
T: To Anacreon in Heaven |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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America |
D: w. 1832 Rev. Samuel Francis Smith (1808 - 1895), m. 1744 British National Anthem
V: My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing.
T: God Save The Queen |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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America the Beautiful |
D: w. 1913 Katharine Lee Bates (1859 - 1929), m. 1882 Samuel A. Ward (1725 - 1776)
V: O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain.
T: Materna |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Battle Hymn of the Republic |
D: w. 1861 Julia Ward Howe (1819 - 1910), m. c1855 John William Steffe (?)
V: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
C: Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.
T: John Brown's Body |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Columbia the Gem of the Ocean |
D: w. 1843 David T. Shaw, m. 1843 Thomas a Becket
V: O Columbia, the gem of the ocean, The home of the brave and the free.
C: . . . When borne by the red, white, and blue
NOTE: Also possible British origin, "Britannia, the Pride of the Ocean" |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Hail Columbia |
D: w. 1789 Philip Phile (Pfeil), m. 1798 Joseph Hopkinson
V: Hail, Columbia, Happy land! Hail ye heroes! Heav'n born band!
C: Firm united, let us be, Rallying round our liberty; |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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When Johnny Comes Marching Home |
D: w. 1861 Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore, m. 1861 Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore
V: When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah! Hurrah! We'll give him a hearty welcome then. Hurrah! Hurrah!
C: . . . And we'll all feel gay when Johnny comes marching home.
NOTE: Possibly derived from Irish Anti-War Song "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye" |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Yankee Doodle |
D: w. 1775 or Earlier Unknown, m. 1400s British War Song,1400s Dutch Harvest Song
V: Yankee Doodle went to town, A-riding on a pony; He stuck a feather in his hat, And called it macaroni.
C: Yankee Doodle, keep it up, Yankee Doodle dandy. Mind the music and the step, And with the girls be handy!
NOTE: There are numerous versions of the lyrics. |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Yankee Doodle Dandy |
D: w. 1904 George M. Cohan (1878 - 1942), m. 1904 George M. Cohan (1878 - 1942)
V: I'm the kid that's all the candy, I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy
C: I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy, A Yankee Doodle, do or die |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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You're A Grand Old Flag |
D: w. 1906 George M. Cohan (1878 - 1942), m. 1906 George M. Cohan (1878 - 1942)
V: There's a feeling comes a-stealing, And it set my brain a-reeling.
C: You're a grand old flag, You're a high flying flag, and forever in peace may you wave. |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Songs of the Armed Forces
| Title | D=Date-Author V=Verse C=Chorus T=Tune |
PD Reprints |
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Anchors Aweigh |
D: w. 1906 Capt. Alfred H. Miles, USN, m. 1906 2Lt. Charles A. Zimmermann, USMC
V: Stand Navy down the field, Sails set to the sky, We'll never change our course, So Army you steer shy-y-y-y
C: Anchors aweigh my boys, anchors aweigh.
NOTE: See US Naval Academy web site. The words were rewritten in 1926, and any lyrics written after 1922 are NOT PD. |
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Caissons Go Rolling |
D: w. 1908 Edmund L. Gruber, m. 1908 Edmund L. Gruber
V: Over hill over dale we have hit the dusty trail, As our caissons go rolling along.
C: For it's Hi! Hi! He! In the field artillery, Shout out your numbers loud and strong.!
NOTE: U.S. Army Official Song |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Marines Hymn |
D: w. early 1900s Unknown, m. 1859 Jacques Offenbach (1819 - 1880)
V: From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli, We fight our country's battles in the air, on land and sea.
C: . . . United States Marine.
T: Gendarmes' Duet from Genevieve de Brabant
NOTE: U. S. Marine Corps Official Song |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Navy Hymn |
D: w. 1860 William Whiting, m. 1861 Rev. John Bacchus Dykes (1823 -1876)
V: Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave.
C: Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea!
T: Melita |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Semper Paratus (Always Ready)
NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN |
D: w.m. 1927 - Capt. Francis S.Van Boskerck
V: From Aztec shore to Arctic zone, To Europe and Far East.
NOTE: U.S. Coast Guard Official Song *** NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN IN USA *** |
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The U.S. Air Force
NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN |
D: w.m. 1939 - Capt. Robert Crawford
V: Off we go into the wild blue yonder, Climbing high into the sun;
NOTE: United States Air Force Official Song *** NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN IN USA *** |
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Hail to the Chief |
D: w. 1810 Sir Walter Scott (1771 - 1832), m. c1810 James Sanderson (1769 - 1841)
V: Hail to the chief who in triumph advances! Honor'd and bless'd be the evergreen Pine!
NOTE: Official Song of the President of the United States, PD Lyrics from "The Lady of the Lake" |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Reveille |
D: Middle Ages or Earlier |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Taps |
D: 1860s or Earlier |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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John Philip Sousa Marches
| Title | D=Date-Author V=Verse C=Chorus T=Tune |
PD Reprints |
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The Beau Ideal March |
D: m. 1894 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Bride Elect |
D: m. 1897 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Charlatan |
D: m. 1897 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Diplomat |
D: m. 1904 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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El Capitan March |
D: m. 1896 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Free Lance |
D: m. 1906 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Gladiator |
D: m. 1886 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Hail to the Spirit of Liberty |
D: m. 1900 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Hands Across the Sea |
D: m. 1899 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The High School Cadets |
D: m. 1890 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Imperial Edward |
D: m. 1902 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Invincible Eagle |
D: m. 1901 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Jack Tar |
D: m. 1903 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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King Cotton |
D: m. 1895 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Liberty Bell |
D: m. 1893 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Manhattan Beach |
D: m. 1893 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The March Past of the Corcoran Cadets |
D: m. 1890 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The March Past of the National Fencibles |
D: m. 1888 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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March Past of the Rifle Regiment |
D: m. 1886 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Picador March |
D: m. 1889 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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Semper Fideles |
D: m. 1888 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Stars and Stripes Forever - March |
D: m. 1896 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Stars and Stripes Forever - Song |
D: w. 1898 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932), m. 1896 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932)
V: Let martial note in triumph float, And liberty extend it might hand
C: Hurrah for the flag of the free, May it wave as our standard forever |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Thunderer |
D: m. 1889 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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The Washington Post |
D: m. 1889 John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) |
1 - 3 $5.00 Each
4 + $4.00 Each
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