Pioneer Song, with Lyrics by General L.V. Bierce

At the quarterly meeting of the Firelands Historical Society, held in Monroeville on March 10, 1869, General L. V. Bierce of Akron gave an address about the early history of the Firelands and the Western Reserve. At the conclusion of the address, the group sang a Pioneer Song to the tune of  “Auld Lang Syne.” The lyrics had been written by General Bierce. The song had originally been written for a meeting of pioneers of Cincinnati, but the General adapted them to suit the locality of the Firelands. Reports from the quarterly meeting indicate that the Pioneer Song “seemed to stir the memories of by-gone years in the hearts of the pioneers who were present.”

The song praised the woodland forests of the Firelands, as well as the shores of Lake Erie. Ohio was considered “the west” the early 1800’s.

The final two verses of the Pioneer Song are:

The men so bold are growing old;

  The maidens’ locks are white.

Yet, through the tears of by-gone years,

  In song let us unite.

CHORUS

And every grave where sleep the brave,

  Shall be a blessed spot;

And o’er the tomb love’s roses bloom,

 And sweet Forget-me not.

CHORUS