By Gary Berton
The following is from Dick Holdstock’s “Again with One Voice”. Dick Holdstock is a well-known singer of traditional British and Sea songs, having played with Allan MacLeod and with his wife Carol Holdstock in several countries. His book Again With One Voice, British Songs of Political Reform, 1768 to 1868 was published in May of 2021.
A song by Joseph Mather, to the tune of God Save the Queen, “showing support for Tom Paine’s Rights of Man and reflecting the republican sentiment immediately understood by working people.” From the mid 1790s, in the face of brutal repression by the British crown.
God Save the Great Thomas Paine
God save great Thomas Paine,
His “Rights of Man” to explain
To e’ry soul.
He makes the blind to see,
What dupes and slaves they be,
And points out liberty
From pole, to pole.
Thousands cry “church and king”
That well deserve to swing,
All must allow;
Birmingham blush for shame,
Manchester do the same,
Infamous is your name,
Patriot’s vow.
Pull proud oppressors down,
Knock off each tyrant’s crown,
And break his sword;
Down with aristocracy,
Set up democracy,
And from hypocrisy
Save us good Lord.
Why should despotic pride
Usurp on every side?
Let us be free;
Grant freedom’s arms success,
And all her efforts bless
Plant thro’ the universe Liberty’s tree.
Facts are seditious things
When they touch courts and kings
Armies are raised,
Barracks and bastilles built,
Innocence charged with guilt,
Blood most unjustly spilt,
Gods stand amaz’d.
Despots may howl and yell,
Tho’ they’re in League with hell
They’ll not reign long;
Satan may lead the van,
And do the worst he can,
Paine and his Rights of man
Shall be my song.
Dick is now over ninety and is currently playing as a member of Quite Carried Away for the Sacramento English Country Dances twice monthly. He also enjoys singing and recording sea songs as a member of Holdstock, Clegg, and Pratt. They released West Coast Shanties and Sea Songs in July 2025. Find more about Mr. Holdstock at his website: https://dickholdstock.com/