A beautiful song, with enough archaic language to remind us that the paths were blazed and the bridges built long ago.

My two cents is just regarding the Ray Charles version. When looking up words for "Georgia On My Mind", I was amazed to see that the original song, as sung by its author, Hoagy Carmichael, was not as good as the now-standard Ray Charles version. It was a little slicker and cheesier, and mainly by dropping a few words, Mr. Charles improved it.   I can't see anyone getting miffed about his interpretation of America the Beautiful, if people 'get' the song beter when day is done.

Save the wrath for the soloists who add a hundred notes and wails to the Star-Spangled Banner. We need a constitutional amendment forbidding solo performances of that; brass bands and crowd singing only, please.