My Country, 'Tis of Thee (AMERICA)

Bob Swift (organist) and Carlo Cotrone (pianist) [The Swift-Cotrone Duo] lead the singing of the hymn "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" for a "4th of July" concert at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, Arlington, Virginia. The tune: "Thesaurus Musicus," composed by Henry Cary in 1740, was first popular in England as "God Save the King (Queen)" and is the National Anthem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In the United States, it is known as "America." The text was written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1832. Smith was an American minister and writer. According to Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology, he was one of the main editors of The Psalmist --- "the most creditable and influential of the Baptist collections."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• AMERICA
• 4th
• of
• July
• Patriotic
• Concert

[patschamps0204]

As an American I know to appreciate England for what it is and was. While we may have had differences in the past, there is no better friend to America. God Bless America. God Save the Queen

[NicolaAlexandrovna]

Who gives a damn if we used the melody from an English song? It just deepens the meaning of this song by reminding us of our roots.

And to be honest, everyone who is arguing about who made the song, la di da, needs to take a deep breath and realize that music is not a contest. No one will win this idiotic debate.

[MrGeekGamer]

@hop208 It changes based on the gender of the monarch.

[hop208]

This song was originally intended as a slight towards the English Monarchy. Oh well times have changed and the US and UK are close friends. Just wondering, won't they be changing the National Anthem of the UK once Prince Charles takes the throne? Do they always switch it back and forth depending on if it's a King or Queen?

[scotfreak]

i just noticed today during the wedding, that this is the SAME DAMN THING as God Save the Queen!!!!

[JKrten1]

@kanenkitten

Well, the "real" lyrics of God Save the King, I suppose. But this song is "America," that happens to share the same tune. The tune, btw, is from a melody in Muzio Clementi's Symphony No. 3.

So which is the "real" song?

[JKrten1]

I thought it was odd they sang America at Westminster Abbey this morning, but hey - whatever floats the Brit's boat!

*Ducks and run...*

[ThePatrickUK]

The Americans are bursting to shout "GOD SAVE OUR GRACIOUS QUEEN GOD SAVE OUR NOBLE QUEEN" in this song.

[verlox]

@patschamps0204 You're pretty much a traitor. Damn all royalty.

[youarebob]

@gagwee actually during the revolutionary war... only a third of the colonists wanted speration, another third were loyalist, and the last third didnt give two shit