STORM2K

What is your favourite patriotic song? All of them are so good but I'd have to say that my favourites are God Bless the U.S.A. and The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Also a quick question about God Bless the U.S.A. I can't make out the lyrics in the chorus that "and I gladly stand up next to you....." what come right after you? I can't make it out

BTW, There's a rendition of Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys singing God Bless the U.S.A that can be found on the Internet. It is very well done!!

America the Beautiful is my least favourite.

Music definitely is one of the most beautiful things on Earth.

jason0509 wrote:Also a quick question about God Bless the U.S.A. I can't make out the lyrics in the chorus that "and I gladly stand up next to you....." what come right after you? I can't make it out

..."and defend her still today".

I love that song, especially after 9/11.

America The Beautiful.

Voted the under-dog.

Brent wrote:

jason0509 wrote:Also a quick question about God Bless the U.S.A. I can't make out the lyrics in the chorus that "and I gladly stand up next to you....." what come right after you? I can't make it out

..."and defend her still today".

I love that song, especially after 9/11.

The summer after 9/11 I was on a short trip to New York City. On one of the boats that goes around Manhattan they played that song God Bless the U.S.A.

as we watched the site where the towers used to be. Very emotional.

I love that song.



You can find the lyrics here.

http://www.usdreams.com/Greenwood79.html

Pre-9/11 I would have picked "America the Beautiful;" post-9/11 it's "God Bless the U.S.A." OR a choice not listed: the oldie "God Bless America."

"The Star Spangled Banner".

I don't want to sound unpatriotic,but the Star Spangled Banner sounds like it was written by someone who had alittle too much of the whiskey I picked America The Beautiful

God Bless the U.S.A..... It gives me the chills EVERYTIME I listen to it

canegrl04 wrote:I don't want to sound unpatriotic,but the Star Spangled Banner sounds like it was written by someone who had alittle too much of the whiskey I picked America The Beautiful

The year was 1814. Our country was at war with England. In August, the English soldiers had captured and burned Washington D.C. Now they were planning to capture Baltimore, Maryland. To capture Baltimore, the English would have to destroy the fort that protected the city - Fort McHenry.
Before the battle an American doctor, Dr. William Beanes, had tried to arrest some soldiers. The angry English took the doctore prisoner aboard one of the English warships.
Dr. Beanes' friends were worried about him and they sent Francis Scott Key in a small boat to talk to the admiral of the English warship.
The admiral said he would let Dr. Beanes go, but that the Americans would have to stay on the English boat for a few hours. The English were ready to attack Fort McHenry. They did not want Mr. Key to go back and warn Fort McHenry of the attack.
So Mr. Key watched as the English shot bombs and rockets at Fort McHenry. He kept his eyes on the large United States flag flying over Fort McHenry. As long as our flag was still flying, he knew the English had not won.
Night came. But in the light of the rockets' red glare and the bombs bursting in air, he could still see our flag. It had many holes in it from the rockets and bombs, but it was still proudly flying!
Then he did not see our flag for a long time. Was it still there? Dawn came and soon Mr. Key saw the flag again!
Still on board the ship, Franis Scott Key began writing a poem. He called it "The Star-Spangled Banner." Later, when he was back on land, he showed the poem to his brother-in-law. His brother-in-law liked it so well that he had it printed.
The people liked it too. Someone noticed that the words seemed to fit an old English tune. Soon "The Star-Spangled Banner" was sung everywhere.
Francis Scott Key wrote four verses to "The Star-Bangled Banner." The first verse is the one you hear most often.
Think how he felt on that ship, wondering if his country's flag was still flying or if it had been captured by the enemy. Then think how thrilling it was to see his flag, though tattered and torn, still flying.
I'm sure you know all this, but when you think about what happened while listening to it, it makes it much more meaningful. At least to me.
I really like this one and "God Bless the USA", and "America the Beautiful" close behind.

chadtm80 wrote:God Bless the U.S.A..... It gives me the chills EVERYTIME I listen to it

I agree with you & that is what I voted too.

I am Kilrain and I'm a fightin' man and I come from County Clare
And the Brits would hang me for a Fenian so I took me leave of there
And I crossed the ocean in the "Arrianne" the vilest tub afloat
And the captain's brother was a railroad man and he met us the boat
So I joined up with the 20th Maine like I said my friend I'm a fighting man
And we're marchin' south in the pouring rain and we're all goin' down to Dixieland

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine and we fight for Chamberlain
‘Cause he stood right with us when the Johnnies came like a banshee on the wind
When the smoke cleared out of Gettysburg many a mother wept
For many a good boy died there, sure, and the air smelted just like death

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine and I'd march to hell and back again
For Colonel Joshua Chamberlain - we're all goin' down to Dixieland

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine and I damn all gentlemen
Whose only worth is their father's name and the sweat of a workin' man
Well we come from the farms and the city streets and a hundred foreign lands
And we spilled our blood in the battle's heat
Now we're all Americans

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine and did I tell you friend I'm a fightin' man
And I'll not be back this way again, ‘cause we're all goin' down to Dixieland
-Steve Earle

God Bless The USA

None of the above -- I like God Bless America.

BTW, Irving Berlin had the right idea when he allowed only Kate Smith to sing it. Everyone who has done it since just can't get it right.

Now you are going to think I am the biggest redneck on here but two of my favorites are written by Toby Keith too along with God Bless the USA.

I like the one that Toby Keith wrote right after 9/11. It kind of describe the anger I was feeling that terrorist would come into this country and do the things they did. And I also like the song that he sings about the Military who leave their family and do their job despite what the sacrifices might be. I can't remember the name but everytime I hear it it makes me cry.

where are the vote buttons? all I see are the results.

I've got to go off the list myself for Darryl Worley's "Have You Forgotten"..song just chokes me up and gives me that proud to be an American feeling.

First of all, every song mentioned here is extra-special!!

The story behind my vote:

Long, long ago, during my early years in high school, I somehow managed a spot in the Honors Choir, though surely I was the least talented of the bunch. Our director accepted an invitation for us to sing at the Federal Courthouse. The occasion was a rare Naturalization Ceremony.

Wearing our long formal robes, we filed silently into a splendidly-appointed room, full of rich, heavy wood paneling, upholstered chairs and benches, and carpeting so plush that my high-heeled shoes tried to tip sideways with each step. The acoustics were amazingly quiet - one could easily sense that the loudest noise would not leave even the hint of an echo.

Sitting up high, behind an elaborate podium, was the judge. He wore a stern expression on his chiseled face. Down in front of him were the new citizens, both nervous and excited to take their oath of citizenship. Behind the rail was a smattering of family and friends, not that large of a group.

Our director raised her hands, and gave a tiny nod. One member blew a single, quiet note on a pitch pipe. And thus we began “America The Beautiful”, a capella. The music rose and swelled, and filled the chamber. The sound was so clear, so pure, so exactly on pitch, my arms broke out in instant goose bumps and the hair on the back of my neck tingled. Surely we had never before attained such utter perfection.

The words of the song brought to mind so many wonderful memories that even then, as a teenager, I’d come to treasure. I ventured a glimpse at the faces of the candidates as they listened, so eager, so proud, so full of hope. I thought of 3 of my grandparents, who had journeyed to America from over the ocean. Owning nothing upon their arrival, they had worked and studied, become citizens, and raised families. I was struck by an overwhelming sense of pride in them, which I’d never before experienced.

It became very difficult to sing. You see, it’s impossible to get any sound to come out when you are crying. I fixed my eyes once more onto our director, and dared not look away again. I will never forget the experience, and I am convinced, nor will anyone else who was present.


(lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates; music by Samuel A. Ward)

O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet, whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat, across the wilderness.

America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd in liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life.

America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness, and ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years.
Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears.

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.

footnote:
We remained in the chamber after our song, and were privileged to witness the oath of citizenship taken. When the swearing-in was completed, and congratulations given by the judge, our choir closed the ceremony with The Star Spangled Banner.

Deenac813 wrote:

chadtm80 wrote:God Bless the U.S.A..... It gives me the chills EVERYTIME I listen to it

I agree with you & that is what I voted too.

Me, too.

God Bless America - I get tears in my eyes when I even say the words let along hear them sung.

America the Beautiful