Wells and Lake Pleasant's Home Guards, War of 1812 (song)

Song: Wells and Lake Pleasant's Home Guards
Music & Lyrics: AI

[Verse1]
The war drums beat on distant shores,
In far-off towns, and city doors.
But here, where Wells' high hills ascend,
And Lake Pleasant's waters gently bend.
The rumor came on wind-whipped pine,
A dread of war, a blurring line,
The settlers, few and far between,
Held fast their farms in forests green.
[Chorus]
So let the lakes reflect the sky,
And mountains watch the eagles fly.
Remember Wells, and Pleasant Lake,
And the long-ago fear, for freedom's sake.
For even in the peaceful glen,
Echoes of war live on again.
[Verse2]
They cleared the land, they worked the mill,
Against the lonely mountain chill.
But whispers of a darker dread,
Of tribal drums and paint of red.
Native tribes seen in the old wood,
Allied with Redcoats, in the forest stood,
The frontier fear, a primal fright,
Drove many from their homes that night.
[Chorus]
So let the lakes reflect the sky,
And mountains watch the eagles fly.
Remember Wells, and Pleasant Lake,
And the long-ago fear, for freedom's sake.
For even in the peaceful glen,
Echoes of war live on again.
[Verse3]
They scattered south, a frightened stream,
Leaving their lonely mountain dream.
But some remained, the iron-willed,
Their forest homesteads, not yet killed.
The Peck family, hardy and brave,
Refused the flight, the wild retreat they gave.
And gathered 'round, a sturdy few,
To see what courage they could do.
[Chorus]
So let the lakes reflect the sky,
And mountains watch the eagles fly.
Remember Wells, and Pleasant Lake,
And the long-ago fear, for freedom's sake.
For even in the peaceful glen,
Echoes of war live on again.
[Verse4]
To Governor Tompkins, a plea they sent,
A prayer to a far-off government.
"Raise a militia, arm our men,
So we may call our families back again".
The order came, and with it, arms,
To guard the woods from vague alarms.
The Wells and Lake Pleasant Home Guards formed,
Against the storm of war that swarmed.
[Chorus]
So let the lakes reflect the sky,
And mountains watch the eagles fly.
Remember Wells, and Pleasant Lake,
And the long-ago fear, for freedom's sake.
For even in the peaceful glen,
Echoes of war live on again.
[Verse5]
William Peck, their leader, first,
To quench the Adirondack thirst.
The war passed by, no battle fought,
But a military road was wrought.
To move supplies and troops with haste,
Through the dark mountain's leafy waist.
A scar of progress, harsh and new,
For a war this wilderness never knew.
[Chorus]
So let the lakes reflect the sky,
And mountains watch the eagles fly.
Remember Wells, and Pleasant Lake,
And the long-ago fear, for freedom's sake.
For even in the peaceful glen,
Echoes of war live on again.
So let the lakes reflect the sky,
And mountains watch the eagles fly.
Remember Wells, and Pleasant Lake,
And the long-ago fear, for freedom's sake.
For even in the peaceful glen,
Echoes of war live on again.