General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsToday in 1938, Irving Berlin's song, God Bless America was introduced
by Kate Smith on her Armistice Day radio program. It was originally written in 1918 for Berlin's soldier show YIP YIP YAPHANK but left out because it was thought to be "too serious" for the show.
Did you know that Irving Berlin's classic anthem, "God Bless America," almost didn't come to be? Learn how Kate Smith and WWII gave second life to this song.
sarisataka
(18,821 posts)that "God Bless America" was written by a Russian Jew. (At this point watch Tea Party heads )
His family emigrated from Russia to escape the pogroms of Tsar Nicholas
shenmue
(38,506 posts)elleng
(131,203 posts)and p.s. I recall seeing Kate Smith, every day after school, when I was a kid.
tularetom
(23,664 posts)It's a nice song, but I don't think it should be sung in the seventh inning of every effin major league game.
Bring back "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".
longship
(40,416 posts)And I remember Kate Smith's TV program. It sucked, too.
About the same time I also remember Lee Liberace's program. At least one got some chuckles at that one.
I was very young, but my sisters and I knew that there was something very different about both Kate Smith and Lee Liberace. The difference was we kinda liked Liberace and made fun at his flamboyance, which we only understood to be rather unusual. Little did we know at that age.
But I despise "God Bless America", especially that it has replaced "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at many ball parks.
Fuck the Christians who did that, or any of their apologists.
It is wretched music and equally wretched words.
elleng
(131,203 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)My opinion is my own. Yours is yours.
I think the concept of some god specially blessing this country is a horrendous idea. This especially with all the apparently unblessed folks elsewhere in the world, many under oppression. But at least we can feel good about how god blesses us. Eh?
Ask that to the women in Saudi Arabia. Or the Christians in Pakistan. Or the oppressions rampant in so many countries. Or the non-believers almost anywhere.
Then, one can embrace the concept of god blessing one country above the multitudes who live elsewhere. And most importantly when this country sets aside the hatred and division that currently exists here.
We are not blessed. Nor is the world. Much of the division is based on god beliefs.
I despise any song that aligns god with patriotism.
elleng
(131,203 posts)and certainly prefer Take me out to the Ball Game.
longship
(40,416 posts)I post here, when I do, to get into a discussion. Often I express a strong opinion. But that should always be interpreted as an invitation for a respectful discussion.
I apologize if my post came off as confrontational. Upon rereading it, it seemed to me to be that way.
My best regards,
longship
elleng
(131,203 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)What are the first four lines of the song?
Like many verses of This Land is Your Land, you rarely ever hear what is effectively the Preamble.
No googling.
elleng
(131,203 posts)"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "
I have no idea what the melody is!
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)This is the original version.
elleng
(131,203 posts)THANK YOU!
Takes me back to my yout in Brooklyn!
longship
(40,416 posts)Isn't there more than one verse?
How many times does one sing the same verse before it becomes insignificant?
God Bless America was written at the end of WWI when the prelude was a bit more appropriate.
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
This is an obvious reference to WWI. The song was revived in 1938 when Hitler was being an asshole. Of course, Kate Smith made it very popular at that time. The important thing to realize is that with Berlin's entire lyrics, this is undoubtedly a war time song. First, WWI, then WWII.
That might explain why folks omit the beginning of the song and only sing the single chorus, which is overtly religious and patriotic, both of which are the expressions of scoundrels.
Regards.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)As the St. Louis was turned away from the United States, a group of academics and clergy in Canada tried to persuade the nation's Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, to provide sanctuary to the ship's passengers, as it was only two days from Halifax, Nova Scotia.[12] But, Canadian immigration officials and cabinet ministers hostile to Jewish immigration[who?] persuaded the Prime Minister on June 9 not to intervene.[13]
Jewish refugees aboard the MS St. Louis while the ship was docked in Havana.
Captain Schröder,[14] the commander of the ship, was a non-Jewish German who went to great lengths to ensure dignified treatment for his passengers. He arranged for Jewish religious services and commanded his crew to treat the refugee passengers as they would any other customers on the cruise line. As the situation of the vessel deteriorated, he personally negotiated and schemed to find them a safe haven (for instance, at one point he formulated plans to wreck the ship on the British coast to force the passengers to be taken as refugees). He refused to return the ship to Germany until all the passengers had been given entry to some other country. US officials worked with Britain and European nations to find refuge for the travelers in Europe.[9] The ship returned to Europe, docking at Antwerp, Belgium, on June 17, 1939.[15]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_St._Louis
God Bless America, Land of the Free
Or some other bullshit.
struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)Irving Berlins God Bless America played one too many times on the radio ... http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/this-land/about-the-song/