All lyrics for this song were part of the original schoolhouse rock learning series.
Intro:
hey, the british are coming, the british are coming!
Verse 1:
now the ride of paul revere,
set the nation on it's ear,
and the shot at lexington heard round the world.
when the british fired in the early dawn,
the war of independence had begun,
the die was cast,
the rebel flag unfurled.
And onto concord marched the foe,
to seize the arsenal there you know,
waking folks and searching all around.
so our militia stopped them in their tracks,
at the old north bridge we turned them back,
and chased those redcoats back to boston town.
Now the shot heard round the world,
was the start of the revolution,
the minutemen were ready on the move,
take your powder,
take your guns,
report to general washington.
hurry men, there's not an hour to lose.
Verse 2:
now, famous bunker hill,
even though we had lost it was quite a thrill,
the rebel colonel prescott proved he was wise,
outnumbered and low on ammunition,
as the british stormed his position,
he said "hold your fire, till you see the whites of their eyes!"
Though the next few years years were rough,
general washington's men proved they tough,
those hungry ragged boys would not beat.
one night they crossed the delaware,
surprised the hessians in their lair,
and at valley forge just bundled up their feet.
Now the shot heard round the world,
was the start of the revolution,
the minutemen were ready on the move,
take your blankets,
take your sons,
report to general washington,
we've got our rights and now it's time to prove.
Verse 3:
well they showed such determination,
that they won the admiration,
of countries cross the sea,
like france and spain,
who loaned the colony ships and guns,
and put the british on the run,
and the continental army on it's feet again.
Though we lost some battles too,
the americans swore they'd see it through,
they kept up raiding parties,
hit and run.
at yorktown the british could not retreat,
bottled up by washington,
and the french fleet,
cornwallis surrendered and finally we had won.
hurray!
And the shot heard round the world,
was the end of the revolution,
the continental rabble took the day,
and the father of our country,
beat the british there at yorktown,
brought freedom to you and me and the u.s.a!
God bless america,
let freedom ring!!