"GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE!"

The first time I ever sang "God Bless America" was in the third grade at beloved (and long-departed) Clovis La Casita School.   Miss Dodie, our part-time music teacher taught it to us, even though the range was nearly too much for our little voices!

Unlike some of our other patriotic songs, this one was a late-comer, having been first written during WWI, shelved, and brought out and revised in 1938 by its author Irving Berlin. He, seeing what was happening in the world across Europe, decided to publish it as a "peace song."

The song was introduced to the nation on an Armistice Day radio broadcast November 1938, and sung by Kate Smith. Her presentation was so well-liked that over the years her name became synonymous with the song and became her claim to fame.

Berlin's words take the form of a prayer---the stanza says: "as we raise our voices, in a solemn prayer..." for God's blessings and peace for the nation. Then---"stand beside us, and guide us through the night..."

It is often sung as just a "chorus," but printed here is the entire text, including the stanza:

"While the storm clouds gather, far across the sea,

Letus swear allegiance to a land that's free;

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God bless America, land that I love,

Stand beside her, and guide her

Through the night with a light from above;

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the ocean white with foam,

God bless America, my home, sweet home,

God bless America, my home, sweet home!"

My best wishes to you, my readers, on this Fourth of July, 2012.

Listen to Kate Smith sing it (below) and see the beautiful pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koR5SYrOgIU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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BY MIL

7/04/12

Sent from my iPad