Original poem (1893) America written on Pikes Peak on the 4th of July by Katharine Lee Bates (poem to follow) The lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates and the music composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward.This is what I think of as our national anthem. The picture is the Commemoration plaque atop Pikes Peak. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_the_Beautiful
AMERICA the BEAUTIFUL
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion’d stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness
America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
O beautiful for heroes prov’d
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country lov’d,
And mercy more than life.
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
Original poem (1893) written on Pikes Peak on the 4th of July by
America. A Poem for July 4.
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife,
When once or twice, for man’s avail,
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain,
The banner of the free!
Welcome! I would imagine the thateres stay open longer down south. Enjoy !
So interesting to see the original version of this! Thank you for a lovely Independence Day post, MountainMae.
I loved this birthday blog for America. Very nice.
I would prefer this as the national anthem too!
I’d pick beauty over rockets bursting in air any day. Our land is really beautiful and so diverse, like the people.
I totally agree. I have heard she wrote it after flying across country from the East to Colorado and saw the fruited planes and amber waves of grain from the plane. Thank you for all the verses
Happy 4th
I was amused to see all the versions and the varied people that have covered this wonderful song.
This should be our national anthem. As one who has been criss-crossing this nation now for eight years, I can tell you that I have seen beauty everywhere I’ve gone. Thanks for sharing this on this day.
Not only have you seen the beauty but you shared it with us! Freedom to roam at will is also a beautiful thing.
Happy independence day !
This song is played before the movies start at the drive – in near me – I love it !
You still have a drive-in! Great memories of times spent at the drive-in of my youth. Ours here became a flea market years back.
Yes, but it is in danger of closing because reel – to -reels are a thing of the past. Digital equipment means big $$$. They are trying fund raisers and even wind power to help cut costs. I am hoping to make it this year – last movie I saw there was Deathly Hollows.
There is a website somewhere with all USA drive-ins listed, I will look, is interesting…
We have a drive-in theatre in Blue Ridge, Georgia. We love it, love it, love it. It is a most wonderful way to spend a summer evening–loading up the car with kids and dinner, and going to the drive-in!.
Me too Robin Jean ! Love, love the drive-in ! Here is the link to the database all over the US ! Support if ya can, it’s a great way to see movies under the stars ! http://www.driveinmovie.com/mainmenu.htm
Thanks for the link!