GOD BLESS AMERICA
(Irving Berlin)

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
Thru 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.
God bless America, my home, sweet home.

The song was written for the 1918 soldier revue "Yip, Yip, Yaphank" but deleted
from the show and shelved until 1938 when it was recorded by Kate Smith.

Here's a summary of what's in Max Wilk's "They're Playing Our Song":
He wrote the show in 1918, when he was a new draftee at Camp Upton, also known a
s Camp Yaphank. Irving Berlin was a pretty savvy GI. Writing the show got him ex
cused from other duties. One of the songs from the show was "Oh, How I Hate to G
et Up in the Morning" - but Berlin was excused from getting up early, too.
Apparently, he and others decided the show had enough patriotic songs, so "God B
less America" got cut. Berlin held onto the song until 1938, when he had Kate Sm
ith introduce it on the radio. With war brewing in Europe, the song was an insta
nt hit. He assigned the profits to the Girl Scouts.

@American @patriotic
filename[ GODBLESS
GG JRO
mudcat.org

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