Lyrics of East River Escape by HistoryMusicNerd
In the fall of ’76, the air was cold and thin,
From New York to the Delaware, our ranks grew thin.
General Howe was closing fast, with redcoats on our heels,
The fight at Brooklyn Heights, would test our wills.
In ’76 we saw the battle heat,
Saw the battle heat, and had to retreat!
In the shadow of defeat, we find our way,
And will survive to fight another day.
On the east rivers escape,
through the mist we see the shape,
Of the shore that safes us once more!
Off the shore that trapped us before!
That trapped us before!
From Harlem Heights to the White Plains, we made our final stand,
But the British forces pressed us hard, they tightened up the land.
In ’76 we saw the battle heat,
Saw the battle heat, and had to retreat!
In the shadow of defeat, we find our way,
And will survive to fight another day.
On the east rivers escape,
through the mist we see the shape,
Of the shore that safes us once more!
Off the shore that trapped us before!
That trapped us before!
Across the Delaware river, to New Jersey’s bitter cold,
A bold maneuver, in all the states it would be told!
In Trenton’s night, we found our light, that Christmas dawn would tell,
The Hessians fell before our might and our victory served us well.
In ’76 we saw the battle heat,
Saw the battle heat, and had to retreat!
In the shadow of defeat, we find our way,
And will survive to fight another day.
On the east rivers escape,
through the mist we see the shape,
Of the shore that safes us once more!
Off the shore that trapped us before!
That trapped us before!
Historical Background
In short: The song is about George Washingtons escape across the East River and his crossing of the Delaware River soon after!
East River Escape – Washington’s Greatest Gamble
Some battles are won with firepower. Others are won by knowing when to run.
East River Escape isn’t just about a retreat—it’s about the moment George Washington saved the American Revolution. The Battle of Long Island (1776) was the first major battle after the Declaration of Independence, and it nearly crushed the rebellion before it even began.
But Washington didn’t let defeat become destruction. This is how he outmaneuvered the British and kept the fight for freedom alive.
August 1776 – Disaster in New York
“In the fall of ’76, the air was cold and thin, from New York to the Delaware, our ranks grew thin.”
After declaring independence in July 1776, the Continental Army faced its greatest challenge yet—holding New York City.
- British General William Howe launched the largest invasion in British history, with over 30,000 troops.
- Washington’s army, outnumbered and inexperienced, made its stand at Brooklyn Heights.
- The battle turned into a disaster—the American lines broke, and the army was trapped.
“General Howe was closing fast, with redcoats on our heels. The fight at Brooklyn Heights would test our wills.”
If the British had attacked again, Washington’s army would have been destroyed. The revolution would have ended right there.
But then, Washington did the impossible.
The Great Escape – A Night of Shadows and Silence
“In ’76 we saw the battle heat, saw the battle heat, and had to retreat!”
Instead of surrendering, Washington planned a daring escape across the East River to Manhattan.
- 9,000 troops had to be evacuated—before the British realized what was happening.
- They used rowboats, ferries, and anything that could float.
- A thick fog rolled in at dawn, covering their retreat—just as the last soldiers left.
“In the shadow of defeat, we find our way, and will survive to fight another day.”
By morning, the entire Continental Army had vanished. The British were stunned—they had missed their chance to end the war.
Washington’s escape turned certain defeat into another fight.
The Fight Continues – The Road to Trenton
“From Harlem Heights to the White Plains, we made our final stand, but the British forces pressed us hard, they tightened up the land.”
Even after escaping Brooklyn, the British kept attacking. The Americans lost Harlem Heights, lost White Plains, lost Fort Washington.
Washington’s army kept retreating, finally crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania.
It seemed like the Revolution was doomed—until Washington turned the tide.
“Across the Delaware River, to New Jersey’s bitter cold, a bold maneuver, in all the states it would be told!”
On Christmas night, 1776, Washington led a surprise attack on Trenton, crushing Hessian mercenaries and reviving the American cause.
“In Trenton’s night, we found our light, that Christmas dawn would tell, the Hessians fell before our might and our victory served us well.”
The revolution was far from over—but it had been saved.
Why East River Escape Still Matters
“The shore that saves us once more! Off the shore that trapped us before!”
The Battle of Long Island was Washington’s first major defeat—but it taught him a lesson:
- Survival was more important than glory.
- The war would be won through strategy, not brute force.
- Washington’s leadership would carry the Revolution to victory.
Without the escape from Brooklyn, the American Revolution might have died before it even had a chance.
The Lesson?
A lost battle isn’t a lost war.
And sometimes, the smartest move is to know when to retreat.
