I'm what they call a "liberal Catholic. I generally feel comfortable in the company of agnostics and uncomfortable with Falwell Christians. Those who call themselves atheists seem to be a bit closer to the Falwell people - there's a level of intolerance that makes me very uneasy. We sang Song of Peace (Finlandia) in church on Sunday, and I can't think of a better view of patriotism.
I realize a person who doesn't believe in God, might not be able to sing these lyrics comfortably. I sincerely hope, however, that they might be able to feel good to hear me sing them.

This is my song, O God of all the nations
A song of peace, for lands afar & mine

In another thread, Gargoyle posted a more inclusive version, and I like it very much. Gargoyle says it's from a Bill Staines recording.

A SONG OF PEACE (Finlandia)
(Jean Sibelius, music - Lloyd Stone, words)
© 1934, Lorenz Publishing Co.

This is my song, oh people of all nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, my country where my heart is,
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my truest shrine,
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as high and true as mine

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight falls on clover leaf and pine.
But the other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
So hear this song you people of all nations,
This song of peace for other lands and mine.
This song of peace for other lands and mine.

---

Definitive Lyrics (DT Correction):
I notice there are a couple of spelling errors in the Digital Tradition text. Here are the lyrics, as published in the Unitarian Universalist hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition:

SONG OF PEACE (FINLANDIA)
(Words, Lloyd Stone; Music Jean Sibelius)

This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace, for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on clover leaf and pine;
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.


The lyrics were published in 1934, and appear in the hymnals of many different religious denominations. The author, Lloyd Stone, (1912-1993), lived in Hawaii. The music was composed by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) as the chorale for his famous symphonic poem, Finlandia, which was published in 1900. The tune became strongly associated with the patriotic movement to free Finland from Russia.


performed by the Indigo Girls on their first self-titled EP.
@patriotic
filename[ FINLNDIA
TUNE FILE: FINLNDIA
CLICK TO PLAY
TD
oct97