America my country, tis of thee is an american patriotic song, the lyrics of which were written by samuel francis smith. My country tis of thee was first performed on july 4, 1832 at the park street church in boston, massachusetts. If you reproduce the score, please credit as the source. The song america, more commonly known as my country tis of thee, is not the national anthem, but has played an important role throughout american history.
Samuel francis smith was a classmate at harvard with poet oliver wendell holmes, who wrote the famous poem old ironsides. A number of different pieces had been used for a variety of reasons as anthems of national identity or officialdom or patriotism or varied use in. More than any other, one song traces americas history of patriotism and protest. My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee i sing. This patriotic hymn, which is also known as america, became the first american national anthem in 1831 before the adoption of the star spangled banner. Samuel francis smith 18081895 was a baptist minister, author and journalist. My country tis of thee as the capital of the united states and home of the federal government, washington, dc and all that happens there has a particular symbolic value. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring. My country, tis of thee how one song reveals the history. My country, tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee i sing. A panoramic view of american history from the pilgrims to 1950 utilizing archival footage. Did you know that the star spangled banner wasnt actually adopted as. This worksheet is ideal for fourth and fifth graders.
And oer thy hate which chills, my heart with purpose thrills. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading my country, tis of thee. I vow to thee, my country is a british patriotic hymn, created in 1921, when a poem by sir cecil spring rice was set to music by gustav holst. My country tis of thee america lyrics, history and. My country tis of thee america lyrics, history and easy. The story of this patriotic song dates back to the year 1831, when a 24yearold baptist seminary student named samuel francis smith was attending the andover.
Next she takes a step backwards to inform readers that this famous american song actually first appeared in england in the 1700s to support the king of the time. Online timeline tool link see link in resources 10. Looking through the german hymnals in early 1832, smith was moved to write a poem he called america, which he intended to be a national song dedicated to the united states. You may freely use this score for personal and congregational worship.
Americas patriotic coffee history july 4, 2019 by cb miller it is not stretching the truth to say that coffee played an important role in the founding of this country. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims pride, from every mountain side let freedom ring. Remarkably, about 500 sunday school children premiered the piece at a memorable independence day celebration. Use this worksheet to help your students understand patriotic songs, like an older national anthem.
William woodbridge on his return from europe in 1831. My country tis of thee video enjoy this rendition of this famous patriotic hymn performed by bill and gloria gaither and friends. My country, tis of thee this hymn is in the public domain. My country, tis of thee was written by samuel francis smith, an american baptist minister and writer. America my country, tis of thee american literature. And the history of its verses is even more complex. Rising out of tensions so strong the least incident might have triggered the most awful race riot in our history, as coretta recalled, she heard the strains of my country, tis of thee, as though the song itself, like the pacifying effect of kings words, acted as an insecure brake on the simmering violence. Land where my fathers died, where men mans rights deride, from every mountainside thy deeds shall ring. Posted on january 16, 2011 by harmony1011 based on the prompt for group a, i had to put aside my opinion proud citizen of the united states and form a conclusion as to why my country is viewed as talons of the. The words for the song america my country tis of thee were written by samuel francis smith in 1831, but the melody is much older and has been used for songs in many countries. Ani difranco wrote a parody of this, called tis of thee, which points out flaws seen in american society by the singer, particularly vast social and economic inequalities. Apr 07, 2020 but the message inherent in an african american woman singing my country tis of thee while standing before the shrine of americas great emancipator was crystal clear. Published on may 10, 2020 america my country, tis of thee is an american patriotic song, the lyrics of which were written by samuel francis smith. How one song reveals the history of civil rights 8.
Everyone knows the words to my country, tis of thee. At the beginning of the twentyfirst century the song was still performed at patriotic occasions, though it was not as popular as the u. Feb 11, 2018 my country tis of thee also known as america is a patriotic hymn written by samuel f. History for my country tis of thee my country tis of thee america was written by samuel francis smith lyrics and henry carey music. The son of henry carey, a british singercomposer, claimed his father was. My country, tis of thee lyrics, hymn meaning and story. They will encounter old english terms and decipher the meaning and idea of the historic song my country tis of thee. She began with my country, tis of thee also known as america a deeply patriotic song. The first public performance of my country, tis of thee reportedly was at park street church in boston, at a childrens sunday school celebration of independence day in 1832. But the message inherent in an african american woman singing my country tis of thee while standing before the shrine of americas great emancipator was crystal clear. My country tis of thee national hymn of the united states my country tis of thee also known as america is a patriotic hymn written by samuel f. Smith in 1832, while a student at andover theological seminary in andover, massachusetts.
I love thy hills and dales, thy mounts and pleasant vales. The story behind my country, tis of thee my country, tis of thee was written in 1832 by samuel francis smith, and first sung at a childrens fourth of july celebration in park street church, boston. Aretha franklin sang the song on january 20, 2009 at the inauguration of president barack obama. My country tis of thee also known as america is a patriotic hymn written by samuel f.
Ask students to read the lesson aloud as a group, with one person reading at a time. Although the tunes exact origin is not confirmed, it was printed in england in 1744 in the tune book thesaurus musicus. It was first sung in public on july 4, 1831, at a childrens concert at the park street church, boston, and published in 1832. Although we know that reverend samuel francis smith wrote the words to my country tis of thee also known as america, the origin of the songs melody. Smith later said that he was drawn to the tune because it sounded patriotic and that he had no idea that it was the british anthem. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. My country, tis of thee is an american patriotic hymn written in 1831 by baptist seminary student samuel francis smith.
This book traces its evolution from god save the king in the 1740s, up through the various protests and civil rights struggles it has been used in. America my country, tis of thee by samuel francis smith. My country, tis of thee, egalement connu sous le nom damerica, est une chanson americaine patriotique, dont les paroles ont ete ecrites par samuel francis. Carlton young, um hymnal editor, indicates that the hymn, appearing in five stanzas in its original form, was performed at the park congregational church in boston on july 8, 1831, by a childrens chorus.
My native country, thee, where all men are born free, if whites their skin. Decades later labor activists sang their own verses, as did suffragettes. My country tis of thee, late land of slavery, of thee i sing. Throughout the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries, activists have used the citys monuments and public spaces as a backdrop to highlight the importance of their cause. The melody used is the same as that of the national anthem of the united kingdom, god save the queen. Slept where my mother died, from every mountain side. My country, tis of thee audio, 1898, and song sheet, 1874 idca. Murphy suggests that the changes made to the lyrics in different periods create a narrative of civil rights in america.
The story of this patriotic song dates back to the year 1831. How one song reveals the history of civil rights ebook written by claire rudolf murphy. My country tis of thee license song license type select mechanical photocopy print videogram tv sync digital phono delivery dpd live performance internet streaming slidetransparency. Tom disrud this week, as our country was about to celebrate its 243rd birthday, a controversy developed over nikes decision to pull shoes that had the socalled betsy ross flag on them. Mar 27, 2018 by claire rudolf murphy and illustrated by bryan collier henry holt and co. Smith was a baptist minister, author, and journalist.
How one song reveals the history of civil rights kindle edition by murphy, claire rudolf, collier, bryan. Wilberg opens effectively with solo unison men, and the accompaniment creeps in quietly. Smith claimed to have written the verses in 1832, but his memory must have been. The tabernacle choir at temple square 316,834 views.
Although we know that reverend samuel francis smith wrote the words to my country tis of thee also known as america, the origin of the songs melody remains a mystery. My country tis of thee facing history and ourselves. I love thy rocks and rills, thy woods and templed hills. Moved deeply by the desire to create a national hymn that would allow the american people to offer praise to god for our wonderful land, a 24yearold theological. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read my country, tis of thee. My country, tis of thee how one song reveals the history of. Why was my country tis of thee dropped as the us national. Tis and thee tis is an archaic form of the contemporary english contraction its so simply means it is. My country, tis of thee lyrics patriotic song lyrics. Posted on january 16, 2011 by harmony1011 based on the prompt for group a, i had to put aside my opinion proud citizen of the united states and form a conclusion as to why my country is viewed as talons of the eagle with respect to its relationship with latin america. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims pride, from every mountainside let freedom ring. My country, tis of thee, stronghold of slavery, of thee i sing. Enjoy this you tube video, performed by lee greenwood, with lyrics for my country,tis of thee.
America my country tis of thee play a long and history. In 1831, at the age of 23, he boldly wrotemy country, tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee i sing otherwise known as the song america. Samuel francis smith received several german books from lowell mason, a friend, who had himself been given them by william woodbridge on his return from europe in 1831. By claire rudolf murphy and illustrated by bryan collier henry holt and co. What most dont realize is that this iconic song has been a beacon of change for hundreds. This page includes a lyric video, history, sheet music, and other resources for the song my country,tis of thee. Rdrd bible study my country it is of thee, of thee i sing. My native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name i love. This unusual picture book traces the history of the song that is usually referred to by its first line, my country, tis of thee the songs true title is america. Murphy starts off by telling readers that more than any other, my country tis of thee traces americans history of patriotism and protest. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims pride, from evry mountainside let freedom ring. America, popularly known as my country, tis of thee was written by smith, lowell mason arranged and performed it in public for the first time in boston on july 4, 1831, at a childrens independence day celebration.
According to hymnologist leonard ellinwood, my country, tis of thee was one of a group of german poem adaptations smith wrote for mason. What most dont realize is that this iconic song has been a beacon of change for hundreds of years. The origin of the hymns text is a poem by diplomat sir cecil spring rice, written in 1908 or 1912, entitled urbs dei the city of god or the two fatherlands. The words were written by baptist clergyman samuel francis smith 18081895, and for the melody he used the music of the british national anthem god save the king.
Smith composed the lyrics after being inspired by a german lutheran. When she got to the third line of that wellknown tune, she made a change. My country tis of thee, dark land of slavery, for thee i weep. My country, tis of thee paperback mack wilberg oxford university press for satb and organ or orchestra this noble and patriotic piece is a setting of the wellknown tune america also known as the british national anthem.
765 285 44 588 81 927 1303 1489 689 5 44 340 620 635 1079 1520 1144 795 976 1446 951 1359 1499 55 168 1222 197 883 808 1381 1057 874 377 1031 1245 480 1294 908 477 572 132 1078 163 451 1303 1205 868 1264 1002 997