If my people
who are called by my name
will humble themselves
and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways,
I will hear from heaven
and will forgive their sins
and restore their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 LNT
~~~~~~~
Traditional lyrics of God Bless America:
“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
God
bless America, My home sweet home.”
Originally,
the final two lines of the song were, God bless America my own sweet home,
my home sweet home.
Many
renditions of the song omit the verse, beginning with "God bless
America..."
As
recorded in American Treasures of The Library of Congress:
“America's
unofficial national anthem was composed by an immigrant who left his home in
Siberia for America when he was only five years old. The original version of
"God Bless America" was written by Irving Berlin (1888-1989) during
the summer of 1918 at Camp Upton, located in Yaphank, Long Island, for his
Ziegfeld-style revue, Yip, Yip, Yaphank. "Make her victorious on land and
foam, God Bless America..." ran the original lyric. However, Berlin
decided that the solemn tone of "God Bless America" was somewhat out
of keeping with the more comedic elements of the show and the song was laid
aside.
In
the fall of 1938, as war was again threatening Europe, Berlin decided to write
a "peace" song. He recalled his "God Bless America" from
twenty years earlier and made some alterations to reflect the different state
of the world. Singer Kate Smith introduced the revised "God Bless
America" during her radio broadcast on Armistice Day, 1938. The song was
an immediate sensation.”
Click on GOD BLESS AMERICA and listen to Kate Smith.
