I suggest we should be hearing this again and again -- across the board...from Sea to Shining Sea, Kate Smith - WW II
On then-called Armistice Day, 1939, Kate Smith, a fiercely patriotic American, and the biggest star on radio, was deeply worried about her country. She asked Irving Berlin if he could give her a song that would re-ignite the spirit of American patriotism and faith. He said he had a song that he had written in 1917, but never used. He said she could have it. She sat at the piano & played it and realized how good it was. She called Mr. Berlin and told him that she couldn't take this from him for nothing. So, they agreed that any money that might be made off the song would be donated to the Boy Scouts of America.
Thanks to Kate Smith and Irving Berlin, the Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties. This clip is from the movie, "You're in the Army Now". You will see a familiar face in this-one that we are all very proud of. Frank Sinatra said that when Kate Smith, whom he considered the greatest singer of his age, first sang this song on the radio, a million guys got 'dust' in their eyes and had to wipe the tears the 'dust' caused.
The song was a hit; there was even a movement to make "God Bless America" the national anthem of the United States. However, there was strong opposition by conservative southerners as well as conservatives who lived in rural areas where there were no Jews living in it, stating that because Irving Berlin was a foreigner and a Jew, that they would not accept their national anthem to be composed by a member of the minority class.
you can't even leave God bless america alone, you are so pathetic! Neg way... pine. You are a troubled sort..anyone else like this song? Brought back some great memories of my dad who was in the service during WWII, mom played this once in a while, wish I had that record. :fireworks4: :soldiers:
Yeah, I love the song, better than the National Anthem, in fact. I wish it were our National Anthem, but those pesky conservatives prevented it from becoming the National Anthem.
I also like "My Country Tis of Thee," but we swiped the tune for that from the Brits. They know it as "God Save The Queen."
Pineguy wrote: Yeah, I love the song, better than the National Anthem, in fact. I wish it were our National Anthem, but those pesky conservatives prevented it from becoming the National Anthem.
I also like "My Country Tis of Thee," but we swiped the tune for that from the Brits. They know it as "God Save The Queen."
And the music for the Star Spangled Banner was also lifted from the Brits. It was originally called "The Anacreontic Song" and celebrated wine, women and song, including the line, "And long may the sons of Anacreon intwine the myrtle of Venus with Bacchus' vine."
It was funny watching my daughter's reaction to it sung in England because she had no idea.
We were fortune to see the Trooping of the Colours one year and then we walked down to Buckingham Palace to wait for the Royal Family to step out on the balcony. When the Queen appeared, the thousands of people waiting started singing "God Save The Queen." My daughter was looking at me like, "What the heck?"
