Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean

History

"Columbia" was a common poetic nickname for the United States of America in the 19th century. The United States was often represented in illustrations and cartoons as a heroic female figure named Columbia dressed in flag-like bunting. Other nations used similar figures, notably the French Marianne and the British Britannia.

Historical sources generally agree that, in the autumn of 1843, an actor named David T. Shaw wanted a new patriotic song to sing at a benefit performance. He gained the assistance of fellow performer Thomas A. Becket, Sr. (1808-1890), who wrote the lyrics and melody for him. Evidently, Shaw published the song under his own name, but Becket was able to prove his authorship by means of his original handwritten composition. There remains some disagreement as to whether other versions of the song predated Becket's composition or followed it.

The British version of this anthem, "Britannia, the Pride of the Ocean," was first published in 1852, nine years after the American version was first published. There is no evidence that it predated the American version.

Cultural influence

The tune was used repeatedly by the composer Charles Ives, featuring notably in his Second Symphony and A Symphony: New England Holidays as well as in his Piano Sonata No. 2.

The melody from "Columbia", along with other traditional songs, is included in "American Patrol", a popular march written by F. W. Meacham in 1885. Originally intended for piano, it was later arranged for the swing band of Glenn Miller.

In popular culture

The song is featured in the film Amistad (1997).

The song is sung at the Fourth of July celebration in the film The Music Man (1962).

The song is rehearsed by schoolchildren of 1881 in "No Time Like the Past," a 1963 episode of The Twilight Zone.

The first line is sung a capella by Bruno Kirby in the film Donnie Brasco (1997).

An instrumental version of the song frequently marks Popeye's consumption of spinach.

The song was played by the "Columbia, New Hampshire, High School marching band" in The West Wing's third series episode where President Josiah Bartlet is preparing to announce his bid for reelection. It was also being played in the background just before President Bartlet was sworn in for his second term.

The song can be heard in the title screen of Epyx's computer game Destroyer.

The song is the last song heard in the 1944 Warner Bros. cartoon, The Weakly Reporter, used for a scene depicting a ship launch by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser.

The last sentence of the song is played as the background music in the cartoon Daffy – The Commando, while Daffy Duck was being shot by Von Vulture as a "human cannonball", flying to Berlin and hitting Adolf Hitler in the head with a mallet .

Carole Lombard can be heard singing a snippet of the song as she writes a letter outside the doctor's office in 1939's Made for Each Other.

The song is featured in two scenes in the film The Last Detail.

A reference is made to the song by spoken-word narrator Jean Shepherd in the Charles Mingus song "The Clown" (1957): "He used to have this cute little gimmick where he had a seal follow him up and down a step-ladder, blowing Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean on a b-flat Sears-Roebuck model 1322a plastic bugle, a real cute act, but they didn’t laugh..."

The Song is heard several times in the 1958 Movie "From the Earth to the Moon", based on the book by Jules Verne

Lyrics

O Columbia! the gem of the ocean, The home of the brave and the free, The shrine of each patriot's devotion, A world offers homage to thee; Thy mandates make heroes assemble, When Liberty's form stands in view; Thy banners make tyranny tremble, When borne by the red, white, and blue. When borne by the red, white, and blue, When borne by the red, white, and blue, Thy banners make tyranny tremble, When borne by the red, white and blue. When war wing'd its wide desolation, And threaten'd the land to deform, The ark then of freedom's foundation, Columbia rode safe thro' the storm; With her garlands of vict'ry around her, When so proudly she bore her brave crew; With her flag proudly waving before her, The boast of the red, white and blue. The boast of the red, white and blue, The boast of the red, white, and blue, With her flag proudly floating before her, The boast of the red, white and blue. The Union, the Union forever, Our glorious nation's sweet hymn, May the wreaths it has won never wither, Nor the stars of its glory grow dim, May the service united ne'er sever, But they to their colors prove true. The Army and Navy forever, Three cheers for the red, white, and blue. Three cheers for the red, white, and blue, Three cheers for the red, white, and blue, The Army and Navy for ever, Three cheers for the red, white and blue.

(A slightly different third verse)

The star spangled banner bring hither, O'er Columbia's true sons let it wave; May the wreaths they have won never wither, Nor its stars cease to shine on the brave. May thy service united ne'er sever, But hold to the colors so true; The Army and Navy forever, Three cheers for the red, white, and blue! Three cheers for the red, white, and blue! Three cheers for the red, white, and blue! The Army and Navy forever, Three cheers for the red, white, and blue