{"id":92,"date":"2021-05-10T01:41:05","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T01:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/?p=92"},"modified":"2025-11-21T05:56:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T05:56:10","slug":"america-the-beautiful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/america-the-beautiful\/","title":{"rendered":"America the Beautiful"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America the Beautiful by Free &#8211; Key of A<\/span><\/p>\n<input type='hidden' bg_collapse_expand='69ea79b1357a48048017269' value='69ea79b1357a48048017269'><input type='hidden' id='bg-show-more-text-69ea79b1357a48048017269' value='Show More'><input type='hidden' id='bg-show-less-text-69ea79b1357a48048017269' value='Show Less'><button id='bg-showmore-action-69ea79b1357a48048017269' class='bg-showmore-plg-button bg-orange-button  '   style=\" color:#4a4949;\">Show More<\/button><div id='bg-showmore-hidden-69ea79b1357a48048017269' ><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">The original lyrics were written sometime in the 1890s by a Wellesley College English professor named Katharine Lee Bates, who wrote it as a poem. In 1926, the poem was combined with the music of a hymn written by Samuel Ward called &#8220;Materna&#8221; for a contest by the National Federation of Music Clubs.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Bates was inspired by the beauty of nature during a lecture tour in Colorado Springs. She recalled just before her death in 1929: &#8220;One day, some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there. We stood at last on that Gate-of-Heaven summit, hallowed by the worship of perished races, and gazed in wordless rapture over the far expanse&#8230; It was then and there, as I was looking out over the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under those ample skies, that the opening lines of the hymn floated into my mind.&#8221;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">The poem first appeared in a Boston church publication called The Congregationalist on July 4, 1895, with the editor&#8217;s introductory note: &#8220;Miss Bates&#8217;s poem has the true patriotic ring pertinent to Fourth of July.&#8221; Many Americans feel this should be their National Anthem, rather than the &#8220;The Star Spangled Banner.&#8221;<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Popular Version written in 1911<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Popular Version written in 1911<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>O [G] beautiful for [D7] spacious skies, for [A7] amber waves of [G] grain.<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><br \/>\nFor [G] purple mountain [D7] Majesties [C] above the fruited [G] plain!<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>[D] America! [G] America! God [A7] shed His grace on [G] thee.<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><br \/>\nAnd [D] crown thy good with [G] brotherhood<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>From [D7] sea to [A7] shining [G] sea!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"xyz_ihs_shortcode_3\" class=\"xyz_ihs_copy_shortcode\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for pilgrim feet, whose stern, impassioned stress<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A thoroughfare for freedom beat; Across the wilderness!<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America! God mend thine every flaw,<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Who more than self their country loved<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">And mercy more than life!<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America! May God thy gold refine,<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for patriot dream\u00a0 that sees beyond the years<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears!<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America!\u00a0 God shed His grace on thee.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">And crown thy good with brotherhood<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">From sea to shining sea!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Original poem (1893)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for halcyon skies, for amber waves of grain,<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">For purple mountain Majesties\u00a0 above the enameled plain!<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America!\u00a0 God shed His grace on thee,<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Till souls wax fair as earth and air<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">And music-hearted sea!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for pilgrim feet whose stern, impassioned stress<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness!<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America!\u00a0 God shed His grace on thee.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">By pilgrim foot and knee!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for glory-tale, of liberating strife,<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">When once or twice, for man&#8217;s avail,\u00a0 men lavished precious life!<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America!\u00a0 God shed His grace on thee.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Till selfish gain no longer stain,\u00a0 the banner of the free!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears!<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America!\u00a0 God shed His grace on thee.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Till nobler men keep once again &#8211; Thy whiter jubilee!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">First version set to music in 1904<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">For purple mountain Majesties above the fruited plain!<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America!\u00a0 Our Liberty defined.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Please lead the way, through all our day<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">And we will walk behind.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for pilgrim feet whose stern impassioned stress<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America!\u00a0 God mend thine ev&#8217;ry flaw.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for glory-tale of liberating strife,<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">When valiantly for man&#8217;s avail men lavished precious life.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America!\u00a0 May God thy gold refine<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">America! America!\u00a0 God shed His grace on thee.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">And crown thy good with brotherhood,<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">From sea to shining sea.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>FROM PLAZA VIEW BOOK:<\/p>\n<p>14. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL 1910<br \/>\n___________MUSIC &#8211;1892 WORDS &#8211;1895<br \/>\nOH BEAUTIFUL, FOR SPACIOUS SKIES,<br \/>\nFOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN.<br \/>\nFOR PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTIES<br \/>\nABOVE THE FRUITED PLAIN.<br \/>\nAMERICA, AMERICA,<br \/>\nGOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE;<br \/>\nAND CROWN THY GOOD<br \/>\nWITH BROTHERHOOD,<br \/>\nFROM SEA TO SHINING SEA.<br \/>\nOH BEAUTIFUL, FOR HEROES PROVED,<br \/>\nIN LIBERATING STRIFE.<br \/>\nWHO MORE THAN SELF<br \/>\nTHEIR COUNTRY LOVED,<br \/>\nAND MERCY MORE THAN LIFE.<br \/>\nAMERICA, AMERICA,<br \/>\nMAY GOD THY GOLD REFINE;<br \/>\nTILL ALL SUCCESS, BE NOBLENESS,<br \/>\nAND EVERY GAIN DIVINE.<br \/>\nOH BEAUTIFUL, FOR PATRIOT DREAM<br \/>\nTHAT SEES BEYOND THE YEARS.<br \/>\nTHINE ALABASTER CITIES GLEAM<br \/>\nUNDIMMED BY HUMAN TEARS.<br \/>\nAMERICA, AMERICA,<br \/>\nGOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE;<br \/>\nAND CROWN THY GOOD<br \/>\nWITH BROTHERHOOD,<br \/>\nFROM SEA TO SHINING SEA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>America the Beautiful by Free &#8211; Key of A Popular Version written in 1911 O [G] beautiful for [D7] spacious skies, for [A7] amber waves of [G] grain. For [G] purple mountain [D7] Majesties [C] above the fruited [G] plain! [D] America! [G] America! God [A7] shed His grace on &hellip; <span class=\"more-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/america-the-beautiful\/\" class=\"more-link\">CLICK TO VIEW SONG<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">America the Beautiful<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[133,116,117,115,68,94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-92","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-baritone-bill","category-live-baritone","category-live-piano","category-live-tenor","category-love-songs","category-patriotic-songs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.robertandrews.net\/songs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}