America the Beautiful

I have a sweet memory related to the song, “America the Beautiful”…

It is 1968, and I am standing with other fifth- and sixth-graders near the top of the risers at the front of our school’s auditorium. As I scan the audience, I know my mom, dad and brother are among the many family members packing the auditorium.

My friend Nancy, one year older than me, is just below, sitting on a gray metal folding chair with her violin ready.

We, the choir, are singing one of my all-time favorite songs, “America the Beautiful”, and when we come to the chorus, I sing the descant, “All hail, all hail, America!”

Nancy looks up to me, smiling, nodding approvingly. These are some very high notes, and this harmony in the chorus, along with the exquisite words, make it so dear to me.

Nancy seems to be saying, “Well done!” I smile back at her as I sing.

————-

Here is the actual sheet I found in my scrapbook from a set of sheets of lyrics to the various songs we performed.

Here is a slightly different version from our 5th grade performance: the amazing Ray Charles singing, joined by Stevie Wonder and others in 1991 in a beautiful rendition of this song!

A little background

The poem was written by Katherine Lee Bates in about 1893, and later sung to a tune written by Samuel A Ward in 1882. As her trip to Colorado, my home state, inspired the poem, that made this song all the more important to me.

More to enjoy!

The poems of Katherine Lee Bates, as well as an extensive biography, are free to read in the book Selected poems of Katharine Lee Bates, edited by Marion Pelton Guild. Internet Archive is a treasure trove of literature for free!

PoemHunter also showcases her many poems, including this interesting one of a tribute to author George MacDonald.

I love my country and love this song!