The Star Spangled Banner

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more? Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand, Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation; Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust" And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

America The Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates,

Melody by Samuel 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 impassioned stress A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved 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 every 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!

O beautiful for halcyon skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet, Whose stem impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale Of liberating strife When once and twice, for man's avail Men lavished precious life! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till selfish gain no longer stain The banner of the free!

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 Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee!

"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

Thru 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.

America

by Rev. Samuel F. Smith

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!

Stars and Stripes Forever

by John Philip Sousa

Let martial note in triumph float And liberty extend its mighty hand

A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers, The banner of the Western land.

The emblem of the brave and true Its folds protect no tyrant crew;

The red and white and starry blue Is freedom's shield and hope.

Other nations may deem their flags the best And cheer them with fervid elation

But the flag of the North and South and West Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free! May it wave as our standard forever,

The gem of the land and the sea, The banner of the right.

Let despots remember the day When our fathers with mighty endeavor

Proclaimed as they marched to the fray That by their might and by their right It waves forever.

Let eagle shriek from lofty peak The never-ending watchword of our land;

Let summer breeze waft through the trees The echo of the chorus grand.

Sing out for liberty and light, Sing out for freedom and the right.

Sing out for Union and its might, O patriotic sons.

Other nations may deem their flags the best And cheer them with fervid elation,

But the flag of the North and South and West Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free. May it wave as our standard forever

The gem of the land and the sea, The banner of the right.

Let despots remember the day When our fathers with might endeavor

Proclaimed as they marched to the fray, That by their might and by their right It waves forever.

I am thankful to be an American,

To live in the greatest land of all.

In a nation blessed,

it's the very best,

I can stand with my head up tall.

I am thankful to be an American,

To be born in a land that's free.

I am thankful to God,

for allowing me to be,

An American.