America My Country 'Tis of Thee

Some sources attribute the origin of the patriotic tune America (aka My Country 'Tis of Thee) to an adaptation from Muzio Clementi's Symphony No. 3 by Samuel Francis Smith who wrote the lyrics in 1831. However, the tune's origins remain unconfirmed. Its first confirmed notable record was published in 1744 in the English Tune Book known as Thesaurus Musicus followed by a release in 1745 as "God Save the King" intended to show support for King George II. The tune later became used for the Danish, Prussian, Britain, and Liechtenstein national anthems.

The lyrics were commissioned by Lowell Mason when he requested that his friend Samuel Francis Smith translate lyrics from a German Hymn book or write new lyrics for the German tunes for the school children. It debut on July 4, 1831 at a children's service at the Park Street Church in Boston, Massachusetts. It is said that Smith wanted to pay a peaceful homage to the nation through the lyrics of the song. Most of us are taught the song in our early school days but are not aware of the many verses of the song.

America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)

My country, 'tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills,
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet Freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With Freedom's holy light,
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our King.

Our glorious Land to-day,
'Neath Education's sway,
Soars upward still.
Its hills of learning fair,
Whose bounties all may share,
Behold them everywhere
On vale and hill!

Thy safeguard, Liberty,
The school shall ever be,
Our Nation's pride!
No tyrant hand shall smite,
While with encircling might
All here are taught the Right
With Truth allied.

Beneath Heaven's gracious will
The stars of progress still
Our course do sway;
In unity sublime
To broader heights we climb,
Triumphant over Time,
God speeds our way!

Grand birthright of our sires,
Our altars and our fires
Keep we still pure!
Our starry flag unfurled,
The hope of all the world,
In peace and light impearled,
God hold secure!