GOD BLESS AMERICA

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.