July 4, 2022 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, July 4th.
Today our country celebrates her 246th birthday - that’s a lot of candles! And we take a moment to look at the story behind the song “God Bless America”
Irving Berlin, a young songwriter, was a private in the US army during World War I. He wrote a catchy tune and was sure it would be a huge hit. It wasn’t. The song lay forgotten for twenty years until the world, once again, went to war. Berlin premiered it (again) on November 11, 1938. Today we call that Veteran’s Day. Back then they called it Armistice Day - the anniversary of the end of World War I.
Singing this “new” song was a young singer named Kate Smith. She went on to have a long and illustrious career, but this remained her signature song. And she would always include the seldom heard verse -
As the storm clouds gather far across the sea
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free
Let us all be faithful to a land so fair
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer . . .
Irving Berlin always referred to it as his “peace” song. In this time of war and rumors of wars, we sing it once again.
God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the 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
Have a wonderful Independence Day!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
