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!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
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 every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Here are some details about the lyrics of America the Beautiful:
Authorship:
- The poem was written by Katharine Lee Bates in 1895.
- It was originally titled “Pikes Peak” after the mountain she saw that inspired her.
Music:
- The music was composed by Samuel A. Ward in 1882 for a hymn titled “Materna.”
- The lyrics and music weren’t paired together until 1910.
Lyrical Themes:
- The beauty and vastness of the American landscape (“purple mountain majesties”, “amber waves of grain”, “fruited plain”)
- American ideals like liberty, justice, and religious faith (“God shed His grace on thee”, “brotherhood from sea to shining sea”)
- The history of the country, including the Pilgrims and sacrifices made in wars (“pilgrim feet”, “liberating strife”)
- America’s potential to live up to its ideals (“may God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness”)
Interesting Facts:
- “America the Beautiful” is often considered the unofficial national anthem of the United States, though “The Star-Spangled Banner” holds the official title.
- Some of the original lyrics have been changed over time. For instance, Bates originally wrote “enameled plain” instead of “fruited plain.”