America the Beautiful - Ray Charles

[rackem231]

think god he was blind...maybe he missed how fucked up this world is

[ladodger85]

im 25. i remember i when i heard this on the movie "the sandlot" then i went to a dodger game on 4th of july and they played this while the fireworks popped in the clear summer sky.. man that was the best feeling ever.. better than the first time i ejaculated!

[jujusunrise]

That's what make me think with emotion about the America who came to Europe at the darkest time... Past time.

[GrizzlTooth]

great song, because it's a great song about our country AND because Ray sings it with such soul...

[1085robbie]

..this is the only rendition of this song that brings tears to my eyes...not because he's singing about my country of birth, but because his emotion in singing this song speaks to my soul...RIP Ray Charles

[MrDickNixon]

why THIS song is not the national anthem i have no idea

[doughtymqan]

This brings tears to my eyes. I fear for America.

[cyndeewi]

Me too

[ericawoods94]

he is amazing and may his soul rest in peace, the movie Ray brought me here thumbs up if it did too.

[gbrown6429]

i love me some ray

[btwall60]

This is a MAN that grew up poor and reached the height of success. He did not have to sing about America like this, but he did. What a MAN.

[donnkizz]

No one I repeat no one will ever give this patriotic hymn the feeling and the soul, that Ray gave it every version since pails in comparison

[enjoyace]

Israeli tv lol

[feetlover18]

is he blind??

[Dedric5]

@feetlover18 Did you seriously just ask that? Yes he's blind everyone knows that

[Zendayalover44]

@feetlover18 yes hes blind duh

[Roman70kg]

עברית!!!

[lekvaniusa]

THE lord, god , king of jazzz i love this man when i listen ry i have strange feeling like i want to be happy



[MsMinisterS]

GOD THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND BROTHERHOOD. REST ON RAY CHARLES! THE PAINS OF SERVICE, THE HAPPINESS TO RETURN HOME TO FAMILY - NOTHING BUT THE GRACE OF GOD! ENOUGH SAID.

[altaandtim]

@MsMinisterS amen

[titmo]

so much feelings put in this song, and singing, indeed, and this towards a country that mistreated him so bad... it's hard to understand lol

[valhan364]

1 dislike... That was probably Satan complaining about how free this country is!

[kalaniman1movies]

@valhan364 lol

[videodude92]

i find it so good that a man whose grandparents where slaves has so much love for his country and can put it into a song and you feel the love

[jazzyla9]

There is no other song in the world like this one and Ray Charles absolutely pours all his soul in it. What a musician!!!!!!!!!1

[LT1HILLINGHOE]

The best black voice ever....bar none.

[EDWARDxELRICxLOVER]

I love this guy! <3 especially when he was in the nanny, playing as Yetta's fiance! :D Samela ( i think) XD

[missadvice]

if the hearts of mankind was as beautiful as this song, there would be no hatred in the world. 

[GARfredable]

all of you debating whether there is a God or not are ruining this song! quit it!

[TheRondale1]

Thank you Sir!!! RIP!! Your one of the reasons I truly love my AMERICA!!!!

[killuminare]

legend [2]

[FreeGiftOffers]

He starts with the 3rd verse of the song, then sings the 1st: O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness, And ev'ry gain divine! O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

[Shainalovesyou1]

I remember when I used to listen to this song all the time. man i miss those times.

[skyfox1068]

A LEGEND!

[pooh8it]

i love this song because it reminds us of the greatness that we can live up to.

[ncboy1358]

Simply AWESOME!!! Thank u sir!!!!!!!!!!

[CARLOS36325]

i can´t loving you ray charles cover carlos

( the best)

Brasil

[jamima222]

Get rid of Obama and all the CRAZY libs that want to take god out of our country when god is the reason why our country prospered. Why do you think the 1940's era is the greatest era to ever lived, they respected their moms, their women, and their god.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

[justtim]

@jamima222 First of all, he is "President" Obama. Secondly, you might want to capitalize the "G" in God. Jehovah God is the ONLY God. All others are simply man-made gods with a small "g." If you want to see change in the White House, then follow God's commands to pray for and respect our leaders. There is no authority except that which God has established. Romans 13:1-7.

[bobcarp23]

@justtim All gods are all man made. Yours is man made just like the other guy's is man made. No god wrote the book of Romans. Paul (a human who never even knew jesus) wrote the book of Romans. All the faith you think you have in a god, you actually have in the humans who told you there was a god.

[justtim]

@bobcarp23 Actually, all "gods" other than Jehovah are man made, so you're almost entirely correct. Paul did meet Jesus on the road to Damascus, as recorded in the book of Acts, written by his traveling companion, Luke. You surmise that I base my faith entirely on what I'm told, and you're incorrect there as well. I put the word of God to the test, and He has proven Himself faithful time and again. I know He exists because He has shown Himself real in my life. I pray the same for you.

[bobcarp23]

@justtim Paul met Jesus just like Mohammed met an angel from Allah or Joseph Smith met the angel Gabriel. They just magically appeared before them. The story of Saul/Paul is a myth just like the others. It’s always one guy making a claim that they saw a magical figure, then it’s his job to go tell everyone else. Common mythological storyline. I noticed you said you put the word of god to the test, then never gave any examples. Please explain how he “ has shown Himself real in your life”.

[badsamz]

@bobcarp23 the greatest thing about faith is that I am going to bed tonight believing in something greater than I am... Loving something greater than I am..... and I will sleep well...  I will not sleep like bob the carp who I can promise you.... hopes he survives the night... know why? .. . . cuz Bob believes there is nothing after life.

[bobcarp23]

@badsamz and there's proof of a god in your statement because......

[andrewells134]

@Johnldolde, Our national anthem does speak of a story but that story is benevolent, it speaks of war. This song does not move me to my soul in the way this song does. When i hear Ray sing this song it really makes me feel proud to be a American, because this is a beautiful country and its people are great. I am not feeling the war talk, its a joke to me. Speak softly and carry a big stick. America has become a corporate police state, with state sponsored propaganda stations like FOX NEWS.

[tripleheshy]

@andrewells134 Last time I checked Fox News wasn't owned by a multi-national like GE which owns a true propaganda outlet called MSNBC that really hates folks who don't put on their Obama monogrammed kneepads and refuse to give a big, sloppy "Lewinsky" to the Great Leader.

[andrewells134]

THIS SONG BRING TEARS TO MY EYES EACH TIME I HEAR IT. ITS A DAMN SHAME THAT ITS NOT OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, THE STAR SPANGLE BANNER IS A JOKE. THIS VERSION OF THIS SONG SHOULD BE OUR NATIONAL SONG.

[johnldolde]

@andrewells134 The Star Spangled Banner is NOT a Joke, it is also a beautiful song based on a true story! It is one thing to dislike something, but at least do it respectfully. Whatever our National Anthem, I AM PROUD to be an AMERICAN!

[jillyhawk]

and crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea...that encompasses the whole world, we be a global community folks..america does not have a monopoly on beauty...every nation has unique beauty and lovely citizens...peace to the freedom fighters who fight against oppression & tyranny...fight for peace, find solutions without world leaders takin' us down the wrong path of endless wars...jillypeace~

[akracer1]

As blind as he was, He saw how Beautiful America was.

God bless you Ray Charles, Rest in peace.

[approximately9000]

@akracer1 he thought america was beautiful, because he couldn't see it. Rest in peace.

[rfmullig]

WOW!! Can't you guys just enjoy this great performance.

THIS should be our national anthem.

[barryasus]

What a man and how beautiful is his music. Ray you will be sorely missed.

[curtisjones400]

such a beautiful song-rest in peace ray charles-God bless america

[met12358]

I only wish the schools would focus on the basics of reading, writing, math, science and history. Unfortunately there are too many morons like SWDavis0104 who force their view of no God into schools which has destroyed the inherent ability of a student's freedom to learn. What you need to do SWDavis0104 is take your narrow minded self righteous attitude someplace where it can be leveraged to make things even worse, like North Korea.

[Conail23]

It has been the error of the schools to teach astronomy, and all the other sciences, and subjects of natural philosophy, as accomplishments only; whereas they should be taught theologically, or with reference to the Being who is the author of them: for all the principles of science are of divine origin. Man cannot make, or invent, or contrive principles: he can only discover them; and he ought to look through the discovery to the Author. THOMAS PAINE

[SWDavis0104]

@Conail23 "The state shall make no law recognizing an establishment of religion, or the free exercise thereof."

That's amendment NUMBER ONE. You can exercise it all you want. But YOU CAN NOT force it down children's throats. Schools are part of the state, which doesn't "recognize an establishment of religion"!!!! AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE!!!! Get over yourself. America is a land of diversity. It's people like you that would've favored slavery and opposed Abraham Lincoln.

[Conail23]

Respect and freedom of religion do NOT recognize an ESTABLISHMENT of religion. That amendment was meant to protect our freedom of religion. It is freedom OF religion NOT freedom from religion. And I would LOVE to know what your ignorant, bigotted comment has to do with slavery? There is NOTHING about what I have said that could lead one to believe I would be pro-slavery! Get over yourself!

[Roycely]

The constitution also doesn't recognize the creation of a public school :) Amendment 10: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Those should be creations of states, not the federal government. That way, bylaws of the states would dictate what would be expected in terms of religion in schools. Otherwise- there is no expectation. And the Civil War wasn't about slavery :)

[Conail23]

Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus. your boy THOMAS JEFFERSON!

[Conail23]

It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here. -PATRICK HENRY! heard of him? Give me liberty or give me death guy? Oh yeah.

[1948BigCy]

@Conail23 That's utter nonsense. This country was founded on the principles of humanism, with man being the center, NOT the king or God. Hume, Paine, Locke, Rousseau--THEY were the inspirations for our democratic republic. We didn't want a Church of England like entity in any way shape or form. It's a well known fact that many of our Founding Fathers were Deists and closet agnostics, despite what they may have said publicly...

[1948BigCy]

@Conail23 That's utter nonsense. This country was founded on the principles of humanism, with man being the center, NOT the king or God. Hume, Paine, Locke, Rousseau--THEY were the inspirations for our democratic republic. We didn't want a Church of England like entity in any way shape or form. It's a well known fact that many of our Founding Fathers were Deists and closet agnostics, despite what they may have said publicly...

[nakedBison69]

not true at all. this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, with nobody giving is human rights except for G-d Himself. For rights that are given to us solely by man, can also be taken away from man. Only G-d based human rights are eternal

[InverseSun]

@nakedBison69 : WHAT J-C principles? You religious nuts never say!! The Declaration of Independence and our Consititution are all about establishing a democracy here, free of kings and aristocracy. Where in the Bible does it say anything about that? The DoI and Con were pure Enlightenment.

"All men are created equal..." Where in the Bible does it say THAT? If you mean slavery was part of the J-C ethic, then you are right. Even Thom thought that blacks were less than human...

[nakedBison69]

InverseSun the pro-slavery, socialist nut thinks that Blacks are less than human

[1948BigCy]

@nakedBison69 [Inverse Sun] of course didn't say that. At the same time that our Dec of Ind was written and "we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights", our Constitution said that blacks were only 2/3 of a man, that neither they or women could vote, etc. In other words, the Dec should read "rich, white men are endowed by their Creator, etc." Closer to the ideas found in the Bible than the Enlightenment....

[curtisjones400]

@1948BigCy -CAN'T WE JUST ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL SONG

[1948BigCy]

@curtisjones400 I agree totally. I think it should be our national anthem. Did you hear Ray sing it in the movie "Sandlot"? Sends chills up my spine...

[Conail23]

In Benjamin Franklin's 1749 plan of education for public schools in Pennsylvania, he insisted that schools teach "the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern." I could fill VOLUMES with this stuff! if u stick with ur false claims ur just ignoring the FACTS!

[Conail23]

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible" but since u like little quotes n such how about this quote from our 1st President, GEORGE WASHINGTON! Guess he wasnt a Christan either, eh? lol

[Conail23]

excuse me, I wrote civil war at the end of my post, I meant to say Revolutionary War.

[Conail23]

anyways, what ur saying about 'religious laws' could bring up a good discussion, but it is a separate discussion and doesnt effect the facts. but to a point, I agree with you, I'm a Baptist & we believe in "Soul Liberty." Which means we believe ur moral and religious decisions should be your own, I believe in freedom, I dont believe that any1 should be forced to act as Christian. I just ALSO want MY OWN freedoms to practice my faith to be protected & folks like ACLU want to limit my freedom

[Conail23]

and im not an evangelical btw, i'm a fundamentalist ;)

[Conail23]

I thank the good Lord I was born in this wonderful land! We need good wholesome singing like this, baby! he had the right idea! Beautiful singing!

[collumww]

Ray does more with a single line of lyic than most professional singers do with a whole song. Rest in peace, Ray.

[rmachayes]

I wonder what Dr. Charles would have to say about that gaggle of morons who call themselves the American Civil Liberties Union wanting to remove God from everything associated with America. Yes, my friends, taking prayer out of schools is only the beginning. Damn the ACLU to hell and damnation.

[beergeek279]

Well, probably because some of us who consider ourselves damn proud Americans don't believe in any god.

Get used to it...America was born as a secular country and it will be one again.

[tripleheshy]

@beergeek279 Really?? Tell that to every American Indian, such as myself, who believe and always have in the Creator, be it called God or anything else. Yes, I'm half white but my Northern Cheyenne will always be in debt to the Creator.

[Conail23]

HAHAHA! America was NOT born as a secular nation! If you believe that you are a brainwashed, indoctrinated young person! Our NATIONAL ANTHEN says let our motto be "In God We Trust!" Look it up! DO u even know all the verses to the star spangled banner? Our National history is absolutely full of Christianity! Get a clue!

[beergeek279]

Wow, reaching for the 4th verse of the Star-Spangled Banner is grasping for straws! Incidentally, that did become the national motto...in 1956.

Read some of Thomas Jefferson's quotes on organized, trinitarian Christianity if you really believe that this country was founded on Christian principles, as well as the Treaty of Tripoli.

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy the irony of an evangelical Christian calling ME brainwashed and indoctrinated!

[Conail23]

No, it isnt reaching at straws, that was just 1 little example out of many. And I know all about Thomas Jefferson. It cracks me up how ppl like u will ignore all the God-fearing ppl who were involved in our founding and history and only concentrate on TJ. Besides, although he wasn't a born-again Chrstian, Jefferson was very respectful of the Christian religion and of Christ, I've read his stuff, I know what I'm talking about. Latching onto a couple of his statements is what i call grasping!

[beergeek279]

Jefferson may have been respectful of Christ (the long-haired hippie liberal), but has very little nice to say about how the Christian religion perverted his teachings. THAT's why America was founded as a secular society...to get away from the abuses of power rampant when a religion runs the government , as the CoE did in England. ("History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.")

[beergeek279]

The only reason I even care about this is that "America was founded as a Christian country" has become a justification to push Christian-based laws onto those of us who want absolutely no part of them.

I like to drink, I like to have sex outside of marriage, I like porn, I want the option of stem cells should I require them, and I support the right of others to their own love and happiness as they see fit, so long as it doesn't harm another.

Leave the rest of us alone!

[Conail23]

u just gave away the fact that there is a reason u want 2 believe America isn't Christian, which gives away the fact that your opinion isnt based on the actual history but on your own agenda...

[beergeek279]

I gave away nothing....just pointing out the reasoning for actually caring; otherwise, I wouldn't give a damn if America was founded by alien Illuminati members.

Once again, I refer you to the Treaty of Tripoli, 1796, unanimously ratified by Congress. Article 11 states "the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion"

(Ohh, and the "freedoms" taken away, like open prayer in school, are infringements on the freedoms of non-Christians.)

[Conail23]

u can latch on to one obscure quotation or you can see the thousands of quotes and historical evidence, it is just ridiculous to say that the USA was not founded under heavy Christian influence, to deny that is just revisionist history. If it were not for the great awakening and the preaching of the colonies' pastors, there would have been no civil war

[Calif0rnIan]

Honestly, religion has nothing to do in loving your country. Religion hasn't brought us to what we are today. Quit the opposite!

In fact, The United States of America was founded on simple principles pretty much avoiding religion.

Religion is dumb found, old and stupid to believe in. But, for all means I respect those who still do.

Ian

[alexwilsonNC]

Prayer in schools?

You want that, go to Saudi Arabia. There's a theocracy for you.

[1948BigCy]

@rmachayes: What do you use in place of a brain? The SUPREME COURT ruled against prayer in schools. The ACLU has fought for the rights of black people for decades when no one else would stand up for them. I'm sure Dr. Ray appreciates that. Religion has no place in public schools. Shoot, it wasn't even mentioned in the Pledge of Allegiance until the McCarthy era. You are SO MIS-INFORMED! Why don't you try reading up before making a fool of yourself in millions of YouTubers??

[rebreb06]

"I want to thank you Lord!"

[kalik071574]

They are not signs.. It is the Hebrew Language..

[rrdrums110]

No one ever has ever imparted so much emotion and soul through a pair of vocal chords. God i love this man.

[goodgooglegoo]

@rrdrums110 - ha ha ha ha He used his voice like it was a horn ... AWESOME.

[JDedam2]

it is to bad he died :(

[willaboykin]

Hello Ray: Know What You Thought You Knew,  Yes We Can!!

[jason4852]

ok so a blind black man walks into a Jewish bar and... well you get the idea

[shadddey5]

and a dude name jason4852 comments on a video like a retard saying bad shit and well...you get the idea

[NSCJ1234]

haha

[collinnc2001]

And that is in relation to this wonderful song how?

[jaguar1945]

a masterpiece from a great man RAY

[MrBufordT]

He was truly a legend and there will never be another! Thanks for sharing your talent with us Ray!

[JDedam2]

sorry i meant to predd the thumbs up but then i accedently pressed the thumbs down i am sorry

[rebelstang]

Sing It Ray!

Unfortionatly, It Doesn't sound,

 The Same,As It Once Did! At Least To Me!

I'm Still Clinging To My Rifle & Bible!

[cplkv20208]

Wonderful........honest and with great feeling ...Thank you Ray...

[onecelticwarrior]

Excellent.

[demarte47]

Somethings will never be duplicated. RIP in peace RAY ROBINSON.

[klauzinski]

What are these signs? Is this Jewish language?

[alexwilsonNC]

I imagine that this was recorded from an Israeli television channel. Being that the Israeli's love America more than even some Americans, that is my guess.