"Semper Paratus" (Latin for "Always Ready") is the official song and march of the United States Coast Guard. It was composed by U.S. Coast Guard Captain Francis Saltus Van Boskerck in 1927. It made its debut in 1928.

Etymology of title

Semper Paratus is the title of the song and is also the U.S. Coast Guard's official motto. The precise origin of the phrase is obscure, although the U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office notes the first use was by the New Orleans Bee newspaper in 1836, in reference to the actions of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service during the Ingham incident.

History

Composition

The original lyrics (seen below) were written by Captain Francis Saltus Van Boskerck in 1922, at the cabin of USCGC Yamacraw in Savannah, Georgia; he wrote the music in 1927, on a "beat-up old piano" in Unalaska, Alaska.

First performance

During the run of A Girl in Every Port (1928 film) at the Fox Theater in Washington D.C., a detachment of 50 Coast Guard officers appeared at the theater for the debut of "Semper Paratus", the official song of the U.S. Coast Guard. The officers appeared at each performance during the playing of the song. Rear Admiral Frederick Billard was the Coast Guard commandant at the time.

Lyrical modifications

The current verse, as well as a second chorus, were written by Homer Smith, 3rd Naval District Coast Guard quartet; Chief Cole; and Lieutenant Walton Butterfield in 1943. In 1969, the first line of the chorus was changed from “So here's the Coast Guard marching song, We sing on land and sea.” to “We're always ready for the call, We place our trust in Thee.”

Lyrics

Verse 1

From Aztec Shore to Arctic Zone,

To Europe and Far East,

The Flag is carried by our ships

In times of war and peace;

And never have we struck it yet,

In spite of foemen's might,

Who cheered our crews and cheered again

For showing how to fight.

Chorus

We're always ready for the call,

We place our trust in Thee.

Through surf and storm and howling gale,

High shall our purpose be,

"Semper Paratus" is our guide,

Our fame, our glory, too.

To fight to save or fight and die!

Aye! Coast Guard, we are for you.

Verse 2

"Surveyor" and "Narcissus,"

The "Eagle" and "Dispatch,"

The "Hudson" and the "Tampa,"

These names are hard to match;

From Barrow's shores to Paraguay,

Great Lakes or Ocean's wave,

The Coast Guard fights through storms and winds

To punish or to save.

Verse 3

Aye! We've been "Always Ready"

To do, to fight, or die!

Write glory to the shield we wear

In letters to the sky.

To sink the foe or save the maimed

Our mission and our pride.

We'll carry on 'til Kingdom Come

Ideals for which we've died.

See also

Notes

Citations

Sources

  • . Frequently Asked Questions. U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from on 30 January 2018.
  • . Annotated Music. Library of Congress.
  • Kroll, C. Douglas (2010). A Coast Guardsman's History of the U.S. Coast Guard. Annapolis, Maryland: U. S. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-433-5.
  • Loy, James M. (January 19, 1999). (PDF). Speech before the Military Order of the Carabao Luncheon.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

External links

  • Media related to Semper Paratus (march) at Wikimedia Commons
  • (MIDI and all versions of the lyrics)
  • (WAV)
  • (sheet music)