I Want You

I wrote this for a Fourth of July program in 2006, but I don't remember if we actually used it.

This poem is to be read by Uncle Sam. Many believe that Uncle Sam is a reference to Samuel Wilson who was born in Arlington, Massachusetts in 1766. He sold meat to the US Army and shipped it in large crates stamped U.S. Somebody joked that the U.S. stood for "Uncle Sam" Wilson. Cartoonists later began to depict Uncle Sam as the character that became famous in the 1916 WWI "I Want You" army recruiting posters.


I WANT YOU to listen to me

See, I was born here before we were free

I WANT YOU to remember the cost

A great price was paid, many lives were lost


People came here from far, far away

Risking it all, they came here to stay

From Europe and Asia and Africa by sea

Praying that they would escape tyranny

Nations and people all mingled in one

A great melting pot mixed under our sun

Living and working and worshiping free

Open to all from sea to sea


A colony of England, suppressed by her tax

The people refused to simply be lax

Rebels they called us as we took guns in hand

Brave men and women each took a stand

Declaring independence, proudly we fought

With precious blood our freedom was bought

Many brave people died in that war

Let's never forget what they died for


Some say America has become way too strong

Protecting freedom they think is just wrong

They want to strip away what is right

Force good and free to cower by night

Remove any reference to God from the books

Open our borders to killers and crooks

Let countries suffer from tyrannical men

But plead for help when it happens to them


While peace is our goal, we must do what's right

For freedom is lost if we shrink from the fight

Fight for the weak, fight against wrong

Standing together with God makes us strong

Pledging allegiance to Freedom's just cause

Working together to protect freedom's laws

Keeping God first and giving Him glory

Sharing with others this true Freedom story

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