God Bless America

Written by Irving Berlin originally inthe summer of 1918 at Camp Upton in Yaphank, Long Island, for a musical play, "Yip, Yip, Yaphank" but the song was never used. In 1938, he revised the lyrics and the song was sung on national radio Nov. 10, 1938, by Kate Smith, and recorded for RCA Victor on March 21, 1939. It was performed by Kate Smith in the Warner Bros. film This Is the Army, released Aug. 14, 1943.

1938 lyrics

Introduction:
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 a light from above
From the mountains
To the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home

1918 original lyrics:
God bless America
Land that I love
Stand beside her
And guide her
To the right with a light from above
From the green fields of Virginia
to the gold fields out in Nome
God bless America
My home sweet home

Sources:

• Bergreen, Laurence. "Irving Berlin: This Is the Army." Prologue, Summer 1996, Vol. 28, No. 2 - article
• God Bless America from LC and American Treasures
• Kate Smith & God Bless America from Richard K. Hayes
• God Bless America, Land That I Love by Richard K. Hayes and Kate Smith Commemorative Society

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