Happy 4th of July

Special thanks goes out to one of my many heroes, the legendary Irving Berlin, for composing ‘God Bless America!’

Irving Berlin originally wrote the song in the summer of 1918 at Camp Upton in Yaphank, Long Island, for a musical play, “Yip, Yip, Yaphank” but the song was never used.

In 1938, he revised the lyrics and the song was sung on national radio Nov. 10, 1938, by Kate Smith, and recorded for RCA Victor on March 21, 1939. It was performed by Kate Smith in the Warner Bros. film ‘This Is the Army,’ released Aug. 14, 1943.

God Bless America

Introduction:
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us 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 oceans white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home

1918 original lyrics:
God bless America
Land that I love
Stand beside her
And guide her
To the right with a light from above
From the green fields of Virginia
to the gold fields out in Nome
God bless America
My home sweet home

Thelma,

Yes, that picture makes my mind race with patriotic fervor!