Song becomes popular again

Miami Herald Online ^ | Wednesday, September 19, 2001 | SAM EIFLING

[The Duke]

I guess about the only thing liberals would like to change more than the currency is the national anthem. As for myself, I think something a bit less "passive" is a much better fit for our national song - and the current national anthem is just fine.

[G-Bear]

Actually, I think "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" would be a better song for the present circumstances. There have even been some revised words to it posted here on FR.

[Burlem]

[img]http://i19.yimg.com/19/76e226b/g/0/c5caa61a.jpg[/img]

[twntaipan]

donated his royalties to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts

Oops! Better look for the pro-homosexual crowd to start speaking out against this song!

[TheRightGuy]

Actually, I think "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" would be a better song for the present circumstances.

... or how's 'bout "Onward Christian Soldiers" ?

[AppyPappy]

A 4 year-old sings God Bless America

[gieriscm]

I guess about the only thing liberals would like to change more than the currency is the national anthem.

The liberals I know wouldn't want God Bless America as the national anthem b/c of the religious connotation. They also don't care for the Star Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful for these reasons, either.

[MHT]

I'm glad to hear Lee Greenwood's "USA" song again. It should have been played on a regular basis all along.

BTW, does anyone know if there are any more patriotic Greenwood songs?

[Lurking Libertarian]

At Temple Emanuel in New York, we sang "God Bless America" as the opening hymn of the Rosh HaShana services Monday night.

[riley1992]

I'm glad to hear Lee Greenwood's "USA" song again. It should have been played on a regular basis all along.

I totally agree. That one gets me everytime I hear it.

[KSCITYBOY]

****The Battle Hymn of the Republic**** Please repost the words to this song again - It seems to fit our current circumstances perfectly.

[Ward Smythe]

and the current national anthem is just fine.

This week I'm especially partial to the "bombs bursting in air" line.

[thefactor]

I think the song you are thinking of is "Proud To Be An American."

LYRICS BELOW

If tomorrow all the things were gone, I’d worked for all my life. And I had to start again, with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars, to be livin here today. ‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee. Across the plains of Texas, From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Huston, and New York to L.A. Well there's pride in every American heart, and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American, where at least I know I’m free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

[TOMH1]

I like this one.

ROCK OF AGES

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

[jejones]

Range? "The Star-Spangled Banner" only has a range of an octave plus a fifth. Besides, if drunken Englishmen can sing "To Anacreon in Heav'n," Americans can darned well sing "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Besides...I particularly like the way the first verse ends with a very important question. Don't mess with the National Anthem!

[GretchenEE]

I think "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" would be a better song for the present circumstances.

I posted this on another thread. That song always chokes me up or makes me cry. I got out a song book and checked the author's name -- Julia Ward Howe -- then checked out the circumstances of her writing it in 1861. She was a fervent abolitionist and wrote the lyrics, using a US campmeeting melody, after she watched Union soldiers marching off to fight in the War between the States. The fifth stanza lacks attribution but she wrote the first four stanzas. I wish someone would have told this to me and other students when I was growing up: that it was written during our Civil War as a battle cry for that terrible conflict. It gives it much more meaning, in my eyes, without diminishing its present application. It is a cry for divine justice, wrought through human hands, against oppression and freedom. And yet it conveys to me the terrible price paid in human blood to ensure that future generations would be able to walk free. How can we thank those who paid for our freedom with their blood? That's why it chokes me up so much. There are no adequate thanks.

[lodwick]

I like BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR just fine, JL

[jejones]

Besides, I can't hear "God Bless America" without thinking of the "mondegreen" (misheard lyric):

...Stand beside her, and guide her
through the night with a light from a bulb...

It's wrong to snicker at a patriotic song, but I have a hard time avoiding it with "God Bless America."