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God Bless America

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the U.S. patriotic song. For other uses, seeGod Bless America (disambiguation).
Not to be confused withGod Bless the U.S.A..

"God Bless America"
Song
Written1918, 1938 (revised)
Published1939 byIrving Berlin Inc.
GenrePatriotic song
Songwriter(s)Irving Berlin
"God Bless America"
SinglebyConnie Francis
B-side"Among My Souvenirs"
Released1959
Recorded1959
GenrePop
Length2:41
LabelMGM
Songwriter(s)Irving Berlin
Connie Francissingles chronology
"Among My Souvenirs"
(1959) 		"God Bless America"
(1959) 		"Mama"
(1960)

"God Bless America"is an American patriotic song written byIrving BerlinduringWorld War Iin 1918 and revised by him in the run-up toWorld War IIin 1938. The later version was notably recorded byKate Smith,becoming hersignature song.[1][2]

"God Bless America" takes the form of aprayer(with introductory lyrics noting that "as we raise our voices, in a solemn prayer" ) forGod's blessing and peace for the nation ( "...stand beside her and guide her through the night..." ).

History

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Irving Berlinwrote the song while serving in the U.S. Army atCamp UptoninYaphank, New Yorkat the end ofWorld War I,but decided that it did not fit in arevuecalledYip Yip Yaphank,so he set it aside.[3]The lyrics at that time included the line "Make her victorious on land and foam, God bless America..."[2]as well as "Stand beside her and guide herto the rightwith the light from above ".[4]

Music criticJody Rosensays that a 1906 Jewish dialect novelty song, "When Mose with His Nose Leads the Band," contains a six-note fragment that is "instantly recognizable as the opening strains of 'God Bless America'". He interprets this as an example of Berlin's "habit of interpolating bits of half-remembered songs into his own numbers."[5]Berlin, born Israel Baline, had himself written several Jewish-themed novelty tunes.[6]

Kate Smith,1930s

In 1938, with the rise ofAdolf Hitler,Berlin, who wasJewishand had arrived in the U.S. from Russia at the age of five, felt it was time to revive it as a "peace song", and it was introduced on anArmistice Daybroadcast in 1938, sung byKate Smithon her radio show.[7]This song has become the performer's calling card. Berlin had made some minor changes; by this time, "to the right" might have been considered a call to the political right, so he substituted "through the night" instead. He also provided an introduction that is now rarely heard but which Smith always used: "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." (In her first broadcast of the song, Kate Smith sang "that we're far from there" rather than "for a land so fair".)[4]This was changed when Berlin published the sheet music in March 1939.[4]

Woody Guthriecriticized the song, and in 1940 he wrote "This Land Is Your Land,"originally titled" God Blessed America For Me, "as a response.[8]Anti-Semiticgroups such as theKu Klux Klanalso protested against the song due to its authorship by a Jewish immigrant.[4]

In 1943, Smith's rendition was featured in the patriotic musical filmThis is the Armyalong with other Berlin songs. The manuscripts in the Library of Congress reveal the evolution of the song from victory to peace. Berlin gave the royalties of the song to The God Bless America Fund for redistribution toBoy ScoutsandGirl Scoutsin New York City.[9]Smith performed the song on her twoNBCtelevision series in the 1950s.[10]"God Bless America" also spawned another of Irving Berlin's tunes, "Heaven Watch The Philippines," during the end ofWorld War II.ThePhilippineswas an American possession since 1898 and recently liberated fromJapanese occupation;Berlin wrote it after he heard Filipinos singing a modified version of the song replacing "America" with "The Philippines."

The song was used early in theCivil Rights Movementas well as at labor rallies.[4]During the1960s counterculture,the song was increasingly used by Christian conservatives in the US to signal their opposition tosecular liberalismand to silence dissenters who were speaking in favor of communism or inopposition to the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.[11]

Later, from December 11, 1969,[7]through the early 1970s, the playing of Smith singing the song before many home games of theNational Hockey League'sPhiladelphia Flyersbrought it renewed popularity as well as a reputation for being a "good luck charm" to the Flyers[7]long before it became a staple of nationwide sporting events.[7]The Flyers brought Smith in to perform live before Game 6 of the1974 Stanley Cup Finalson May 19, 1974, and the Flyers won the Cup that day.[7][10]

Lyrics

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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

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.

Notable public performances

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Singing "God Bless America" atthe Pentagonmemorialdedication, September 11, 2008

In 1940, "God Bless America" was the official campaign song for both PresidentFranklin Delano Rooseveltand his Republican opponent,Wendell Willkie.At that time, the song represented cultural andreligious tolerance.[11]

Irving Berlinpersonally performed the song onThe Ed Sullivan Showon May 5, 1968, during an episode dedicated to him in honor of his 80th birthday.[12]

During a live television broadcast on the evening of theSeptember 11 terrorist attacksin 2001, following addresses by then House and Senate leaders, SpeakerDennis Hastert(Republican) andTom Daschle(Democrat), members of theUnited States Congressbroke out into an apparently spontaneous verse of "God Bless America" on the steps of theCapitol buildinginWashington, D.C.[13]

On July 21, 2011, Smith's version of the song was played asNASA's final wakeup call forSpace ShuttleAtlantis(STS-135), capping the 30-yearSpace Shuttleprogram.

Sports events

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National Hockey League

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"God Bless America" has been performed at home games of theNational Hockey League'sPhiladelphia Flyersand those of theOttawa Senatorsin which the visiting team is from the United States. (The NHL requires arenas in both the U.S. and Canada to perform both "The Star-Spangled Banner"and"O Canada,"the Canadian national anthem, at games that involve teams from both countries.[14])

At some Flyers' home games, especially during big games and the playoffs, their main anthem singer,Lauren Hart,has sung "God Bless America" alternating lyrics withKate Smithon a video screen, until 2019. Smith actually appeared in person to sing at select Flyers games, including their1974 Stanley Cupclinching game against theBoston Bruins,to which she received a thunderous ovation from the passionate Philadelphia fans. Before games whenever "God Bless America" is performed until 2019,Lou Nolan,the PA announcer for the Flyers at theWells Fargo Center,would say: "Ladies and gentlemen, at this time, we ask that you please rise and remove your hats and salute to our flags and welcome the No. 1 ranked anthemist in the NHL, Our very own Lauren Hart, as she sings (if the visiting team is from Canada, O Canada, followed by) God Bless America, accompanied by the great Kate Smith."[15]

At some Senators home games since2000–01,[16]if the visiting team is from the U.S., their main anthem singer,Ontario Provincial PoliceConstableLyndon Slewidge,has sung "God Bless America" and "O Canada."[16]An example of this came during the Senators' home opener during the 2002–03 season, when they were home against theNew Jersey Devils.[17]

DuringTom Golisano's time as owner of theBuffalo Sabres,the team occasionally substituted "God Bless America" for "The Star-Spangled Banner" during certain special events. When this occurred,Ronan Tynanwas brought in to sing the song while usual anthem singer Doug Allen sang "O Canada."

Major League Baseball

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At Chicago'sWrigley Fieldduring theVietnam War,the song was often played by the organist as part of his postgame playlist while fans filed out of the stadium.[18]

Since theSeptember 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,"God Bless America" is commonly sung during theseventh-inning stretchinMajor League Baseballgames, most often on Sundays,[19]Opening Day,[20]Memorial Day,[21]Independence Day,All-Star Game,Labor Day,September 11,[22]and all post-seasonMajor League Baseballgames. Following the attacks, John Dever, then the Assistant Media Relations Director of the San Diego Padres, suggested the song replace "Take Me Out to the Ball Game",the more traditional 7th inning anthem.[23]Major League Baseball quickly followed the Padres lead and instituted it league-wide for the rest of the season. Presently, teams decide individually when to play the song.

TheNew York Yankees,atYankee Stadiumhome games,[24]is currently the only Major League club to play "God Bless America" at every game during the seventh-inning stretch. The Yankees'YES Networktelevises its performance during all games before going to a commercial. During major games, such as Opening Day, national holidays, playoff contests, or games against theBoston Red SoxorNew York Mets,the Yankees will often have Irish tenorRonan Tynanperform the song.[25]

On August 26, 2008, at aBoston Red Soxgame at Yankee Stadium, a fan who had attempted to leave for the restroom during the playing of the song was restrained and subsequently sent out of the building byNYPDofficers. Part of the resolution of the resulting lawsuit was that the New York Yankees announced that they would no longer restrict the movement of fans during the playing of the song.[26]

On September 15, 2009, three high school teens filed a lawsuit against New Jersey's minor leagueNewark Bearsfor being ejected fromEagles Riverfront Stadiumover their refusal to stand during the playing of "God Bless America" on June 29, 2009. Before being ejected, they were asked to leave the stadium by Bears president and co-owner Thomas Cetnar.[27]

American football

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At the January 1, 1976,Rose Bowl,to honor the start of theUnited States Bicentennial,Kate Smithand theUCLA Bandperformed "God Bless America" for a national television audience.

During theSuper Bowl LI halftime showa pre-recorded introduction byLady Gaga,who headlined the show, featured both "God Bless America" and "This Land is Your Land".

Indianapolis 500

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TheIndianapolis 500istraditionallyheld at the end of May, and "God Bless America" has been sung there since 2003. The song "America the Beautiful"was sung before, but it was switched to" God Bless America "in the post-9/11 era. The song for many years was performed byFlorence Henderson,a native Hoosier, and a friend of the Hulman-George family, the track's owners at the time. The performance, often not televised, immediately precedes the national anthem. Henderson routinely sang the entire song, including the prologue, and in some years sang the chorus a second time.

Recorded versions

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Bing Crosbyrecorded the song on March 22, 1939, for Decca Records.[28]

In the 1978 filmThe Deer Hunterby Michael Cimino, the song is sung at the end.

The song was recorded by New York City's "singing cop,"Daniel Rodríguez,and charted for one week at No. 99 on theBillboardHot 100as a single. Before the 2001 versions, the last time "God Bless America" had been aBillboardchart hit was in 1959 whenConnie Francisreached No. 36 with her version (the B-side of her Top 10 hit "Among My Souvenirs" ).

On January 20, 2017,Jackie EvanchoreleasedTogether We Stand,a disc containing three patriotic songs including "God Bless America".[29]The song charted at No. 5 onBillboard'sClassical Digital Song sales chart.[30]

TheViolent Femmesrecorded "God Bless America" for their 2019 albumHotel Last Resort.

Celine Dion

[edit]
"God Bless America"
Promotional singlebyCeline Dion
from the albumGod Bless America
ReleasedSeptember 2001(2001-09)
GenrePop
Length3:47
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Irving Berlin
Producer(s)David Foster
Audio
"God Bless America"onYouTube

On September 21, 2001, following theSeptember 11 attacks,Canadian singerCeline Dionperformed "God Bless America" during the television specialAmerica: A Tribute to Heroes.Shortly afterwards on October 16, 2001Sony Musicreleased a benefit album calledGod Bless America,which featured Dion singing the song. The album debuted at number one on theBillboard200and became the first charity album to reach the top since USA for Africa'sWe Are the Worldin 1985. Dion's version was released as a promotional single in September 2001[31]and received enough radio airplay to reach number 14 onBillboard'sAdult Contemporarychart.[32]The music video also premiered in September 2001.

Dion performed the song also a few times during 2002. In 2003, she performed it atSuper Bowl XXXVII.[33]She also sang it on July 4, 2004, in herA New Day...show. "God Bless America" performed by Dion exists in two versions, live and studio. Both included on collections to gather funds for the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and their families. The live version was released onAmerica: A Tribute to HeroesCD and DVD on December 4, 2001. The studio version was released on theGod Bless Americaalbum. The song was recorded on September 20, 2001, the day before the telethon. It was meant to be a replacement for the performance in the event something happened and Dion could not appear. The song was produced byDavid Foster.

Weekly charts

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Chart (2001) Peak
position
Belgium Airplay (UltratopWallonia)[34] 74
USAdult Contemporary(Billboard)[32] 14
US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)[35] 14

Year-end charts

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Chart (2001) Position
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[36] 50

LeAnn Rimes

[edit]
"God Bless America"
SinglebyLeAnn Rimes
from the albumYou Light Up My Life: Inspirational SongsandGod Bless America
ReleasedOctober 16, 2001(2001-10-16)
GenreCountry
Length3:05
LabelCurb
Songwriter(s)Irving Berlin
Producer(s)Wilbur C. Rimes
Audio
"God Bless America"onYouTube

In 1997, Americancountry musicrecording artistLeAnn Rimesrecorded a cover of the song on her second studio album,You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs.[37]After the events of September 11, Rimes rereleased the song on a compilation album by thesame name.[38]Rimes also released the song on aCD single.Two versions were released on October 16, 2001.[39]Both versions contain the song as theA-sidetrack, but the B-side tracks were different. One released to the general public was released with the B-side track, "Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart,"[39]and the other was released to radio with the B-side track of Rimes's rendition of "The National Anthem."[40]Rimes's version peaked at No. 51 on theBillboardCountry Songschart on October 27, 2001.[41]

Weekly charts

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Chart (2001) Peak
position
USHot Country Songs(Billboard)[42] 51
US Top Country Singles Sales (Billboard)[43]
 3

Parodies

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The song has spawned numerous parodies.

  • An irreverent version of the lyrics was printed in the bookThe Mad World ofWilliam M. Gaines,byFrank Jacobs(1972).Madmagazine's veteran art editor, John Putnam, had prepared some copy and sent it to the printers; the word "America"wasdivided,with ahyphen,at the end of one line. The copy was returned to Putnam by thetypesettingforeman, who explained that hisunionhad a rule forbidding the splitting of that word. Putnam obliged, rewriting the copy and sending it back with this enclosure:
Don't break "America";
Land we extol;
Don't deface it;
Upper-case it;
Keep it clean, keep it pure, keep it whole;
InBodoni,inFutura,
InOld English,inCabell[sic]--
Don't break "America" --
Or we'll—raise—hell![citation needed]

See also

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References

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Notes
  1. ^"God Bless America and Kate Smith".katesmith.org.
  2. ^ab"God Bless America (Memory): American Treasures of the Library of Congress".loc.gov. August 2007.
  3. ^*Collins, Ace.Songs Sung, Red, White, and Blue: The Stories Behind America's Best-Loved Patriotic Songs.HarperResource, 2003, p. 82-83.
  4. ^abcde"From Peace To Patriotism: The Shifting Identity Of 'God Bless America'".Interview of Sheryl Kaskowitz by Robert Siegel.NPR.September 2, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  5. ^Rosen, Jody (June 2006)."Jewface"(PDF).Reboot Stereophonic.
  6. ^Alexander, Michael (2003).Jazz Age Jews.Princeton University Press. p.161.ISBN978-0-691-11653-2.
  7. ^abcde"Flyers History - Kate Smith"ArchivedApril 20, 2019, at theWayback MachineFlyersHistory. Accessed in 2007.
  8. ^Spitzer, Nick (February 15, 2012)."The Story Of Woody Guthrie's 'This Land Is Your Land'".NPR.Archivedfrom the original on December 5, 2017.RetrievedDecember 12,2017.
  9. ^Wendell, Bryan (February 3, 2016)."How the BSA benefits every time you hear 'God Bless America'".Bryan on Scouting.RetrievedFebruary 3,2016.
  10. ^abMcNeil, Alex (1996).Total Television(4th ed.). New York: Penguin Books. pp. 446–447.
  11. ^abKaskowitz, Sheryl (July 4, 2013).""God Bless America" and Republicans: How the song became an anthem of conservatives and the Christian right ".Slate.RetrievedJuly 7,2013.
  12. ^"Irving Berlin on The Ed Sullivan Show – God Bless America".The Ed Sullivan Show (blog).July 4, 2012.RetrievedMarch 22,2022.
  13. ^Karl, Jonathan (September 12, 2001)."Congress vows unity, reprisals for attacks".CNN. Archived fromthe originalon January 6, 2010.
  14. ^Allen, Kevin (March 23, 2003)."NHL Seeks to Stop Booing For a Song".USA Today.RetrievedOctober 29,2008.
  15. ^May 24th, 2010 Anthems sung by Kate Smith & Lauren Hart Canadiens Vs. Flyers HNiConYouTube
  16. ^ab"Shots From the Point".Ottawa Citizen.November 4, 2000. p. F3.Renowned anthem singer Lyndon Slewidge also sounds a bit different, with a new background music accompanying his lyrics to O Canada. He will also substitute God Save America for The Star Spangled Banner on selected occasions.
  17. ^New Jersey Devils Hockey: New Jersey Devils at Ottawa Senators(radio). New Jersey Devils Radio WABC Talk Radio 77 AM (New York). October 10, 2002.
  18. ^"Monday's act heroic after 30 years Outfielder recalls protecting country's honor from protesters".Major League Baseball. April 25, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon February 4, 2007.RetrievedApril 25,2006.
  19. ^""God Bless America" and baseball, 10 years later ".CBSSports. August 11, 2011.
  20. ^"Atlanta Braves celebrate Opening Night at Turner Field on Monday, March 31".Atlanta Braves.Archived fromthe originalon November 5, 2013.RetrievedJune 16,2012.
  21. ^"MLB Honors Memorial Day".Daily News.New York.
  22. ^"Baseball plans day of remembrance for 9/11".Major League Baseball.
  23. ^"God Bless America and Baseball 10 Years After 9/11".Sporting News.September 2011. Archived fromthe originalon February 3, 2013.
  24. ^"NY baseball fan settles 'God Bless America' suit".yesnetwork.
  25. ^"Ex-Yankees 'God Bless America' Singer Ronan Tynan Moves to Boston - Boston Red Sox".NESN. March 6, 2010.
  26. ^"Yankees Settle 'God Bless America' Case, Won't Restrict Spectators' Movements During Song".nyclu.org. July 7, 2009.RetrievedApril 3,2018.
  27. ^"Teens Sue Over Minor League Ejection".news.aol. September 15, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon September 23, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 15,2009.
  28. ^"A Bing Crosby Discography".BING magazine.International Club Crosby.RetrievedAugust 5,2017.
  29. ^"Check Out Jackie Evancho Rehearsing for Her Presidential Inauguration Gig",Billboard,January 20, 2017
  30. ^Search results: Jackie Evancho,Billboardbiz, accessed February 1, 2017
  31. ^"AC Most Added"(PDF).Radio & Records.September 28, 2001. p. 120.RetrievedJune 18,2023.
  32. ^ab"Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Contemporary)".Billboard.Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  33. ^Hooper, Barrett (January 24, 2003). "Man, it feels like a great show".National Post.p. A3.Marc AnthonyandMary J. Bligesang "America the Beautiful",which was also performed atSuper Bowl XXXVbyRay Charlesand at "Super Bowl XI"byVicki Carr.This is the first time for God Bless America, which Ms. Dion will perform to a prerecorded music track and to backing vocals by a large choir.
  34. ^Jaspers, Sam (2006).Ultratop 1995-2005.Book & Media Publishing.ISBN90-5720-232-8.
  35. ^"AC Top 30"(PDF).Radio & Records.October 26, 2001. p. 73.RetrievedJune 18,2023.
  36. ^"2001: The Year in Charts"(PDF).Billboard Radio Monitor.December 21, 2001. p. 55.RetrievedJuly 5,2020.
  37. ^"You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs: Leann Rimes: Music".Amazon.1997.RetrievedMay 6,2012.
  38. ^"God Bless America: Leann Rimes: Music".Amazon.RetrievedMay 6,2012.
  39. ^ab"God Bless America / Put a Little Holiday in Your Heart: Leann Rimes: Music".Amazon.RetrievedApril 29,2012.
  40. ^God Bless America/The National Anthem(PromotionalCD single).LeAnn Rimes.Curb Records.2001. D-1631 PRCD#510032.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  41. ^"God Bless America - LeAnn Rimes".Billboard.RetrievedMay 6,2012.
  42. ^"LeAnn Rimes Chart History (Hot Country Songs)".Billboard.
  43. ^"Billboard Top Country Singles Sales"(PDF).Billboard.RetrievedOctober 16,2023.
General references
  • Collins, Ace.Songs Sung, Red, White, and Blue: The Stories Behind America's Best-Loved Patriotic Songs.HarperResource, 2003,ISBN0060513047
  • Kashkowitz, Sheryl.God Bless America: The Surprising History of an Iconic Song.Oxford Univ. Press, 2013,ISBN978-0-19-991977-2
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