Four Score
... and seven
Four Score
[Verse 1]
Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth,
A new nation on this land, conceived in liberty's birth.
Dedicated to the truth, that all men are created equal,
In the fires of freedom, we stand as one people.
[Chorus]
We are engaged in a great civil war, testing our soul,
Whether this nation can endure, make the broken whole.
We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate this ground,
The brave men, living and dead, have hallowed it profound.
[Verse 2]
Here we come to dedicate a portion of this field,
As a final resting place for those who gave their shield.
But in a larger sense, we can't add or detract,
The world will little note what we say, but the facts.
[Chorus]
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here,
To the unfinished work which they who fought have thus far so nobly advanced.
We take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave,
The last full measure of devotion, from the cradle to the grave.
[Bridge]
That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom,
And that government of the people, by the people, for the people,
Shall not perish from the earth, no, it shall not fade away,
In the voice of the free, we'll rise and say.
[Outro]
Four score and seven, echoes through the night,
All men created equal, in the morning light.
We the people, standing tall and true,
Gettysburg's call, forever renew.
Inspired by President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Recognizing the need to properly honor the fallen soldiers, local officials organized the dedication of a national cemetery. Although Lincoln was not the event’s primary speaker—Edward Everett, a former senator and diplomat, delivered a two-hour oration—his concise and poignant remarks overshadowed the lengthier address and became immortalized in American history.
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