Only very rarely do I hear performers include the first stanza, which is by far, IMHO the best part of the song. Irving Berlin particularly added it in 1936, to update the song for the times
“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. “
I sang along reading your post. Beautiful.