sailon "___, O Union . . . !": Longfellow Commodores hit 1979 hit for the Commodores 1979 Commodores hit Lionel Richie rerecorded with Tim McGraw for 2012's "Tuskegee": 2 wds "___, O Ship of State!" Order to the "Ship of State" Longfellow's words before "O Ship of State!" "___, O Ship of State!": Longfellow Poetic command before "O Ship of State!"