American Heritage Songs

Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" ("Proud to Be an American")
(currently playing on "Home" page)

Historical Facts

"God Bless The USA," considered the modern national anthem of the common man.  Lee writes, "The lyrics in this book began as a tiny point of light, but in my heart they burned as bright as the torch in Lady Liberty's hand. They were written for all Americans, whether born here or not."

© Copyright 2006 Lee Greenwood Inc. See Lee Greenwood Inc. 

Lyrics for "God Bless the USA"

If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife.
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,

From Detroit down to Houston and New York to LA,
Well, there's pride in every American heart,
and it's time to stand and say:

I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless the U.S.A.

© Copyright 1984 by Music Corporation of America, Inc., & Songs of Polygram International, Inc.
All Rights Controlled and Administered by Music Corporation of America, Inc.
International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.
God Bless The U.S.A. words and music by Lee Greenwood
 

The Inspiration for "Lady Liberty"
(currently playing on "Lessons" page)

Historical Facts

The Statue of Liberty, called Liberty Enlightening the World, was proposed and designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. It was presented as a gift by and from the people of France to the United States, in Paris, on July 4, 1884.  The statue was shipped the following year to the U. S. and placed at Old Fort Wood on Bedloe's Island overlooking the ship channel of New York Harbor. With a long robe, crown, flaming torch in one raised hand, a book inscribed with "July 4, 1776" in the other, and broken chains of tyranny at her feet; Lady Liberty symbolizes freedom for the world.  Because the French gave the statue to the U. S. without a pedestal, Emma Lazarus, who was in New York, held an art exhibition or event to raise money in America for the pedestal, and those who attended donated. Lazarus wrote the poem, "The New Colossus," for the event, and it was later engraved on the inside of the pedestal.  The poem pays tribute to the immigrants who came through Ellis Island.  The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on July 4, 1886, and declared a national monument in 1924.

"The New Colossus"

by Emma Lazaraus (July 22, 1849 - November 19, 1887)
at the dedication of the Statue of Liberty, July 4, 1886

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles.  From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!"  cries she
With silent lips.  "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Lyrics for "Lady Liberty"

At the eastern sea-washed gates of this great nation
On an island in the Harbor of New York
A Great Gray lady stands, a torch lit within her hand
Who embodies the compassion of this rich and fruitful land

She was a gift from the French in celebration
Of a hundred years of freedom from King George
Because somehow they understood how heroically we stood
For a new frontier of promise that has proven true and good

BRIDGE:  They named her Mother of Exiles; she stands powerful and tall
For the hundreds of thousands who've embraced her silent call:

CHORUS:  "Give me your tired, your poor, your masses yearning to breathe free
The persecuted of your teeming shores
Send those brave and storm-tossed souls straight here to me
My arms are open wide - I'm Lady Liberty."

To the rest of the world, an illustration
A symbol of the future's golden door
For through each dark, cold night, her light shines so clear and bright
She's beloved for her welcome far beyond our country's might

BRIDGE:  We call her Mother of Exiles because the mighty and the small
In the hundreds of thousands still believe her silent call:

CHORUS:  "Give me your tired, your poor, your masses yearning to breathe free
The persecuted of your teeming shores
Send those brave and storm-tossed souls straight here to me
My arms are open wide...I'm Lady Liberty."

© 2002 Lucky Cinda Music, ASCAP, and Renee Martin
Lady Liberty was written by Cinda and Renee Martin and sung by Renee Martin.
 

The Story Behind "Old Glory"
(currently playing on "Rationale" page)

Old Glory was written by the songwriter Cinda in 2000 after a heartfelt and contemplative look back at our country's history. She realized that she had never heard a song about "Old Glory," what it meant--what the flag really stands for. With pen in hand she sought to answer these questions, painting with her words, a picture of the sacrifices made by so many. Cinda has said that she thinks of "Old Glory" as "The Little Anthem".

The music is by Carl Jackson, and the song is performed by Gary Mule Deer and The Players. Old Glory was produced by Carl Jackson with Kevin Grant on bass, Catherine Styron on piano, and Randy Hardison on drums. Carl Jackson played guitar and sang background vocals along with Renee Martin. All of this was engineered and recorded by Ben Hall at The Home Place studio in Nashville, Tennessee.  The real "Old Glory" flag is currently going through a three year, 5.5 million dollar restoration at the Smithsonian.

Lyrics for "Old Glory"

Lexington and Concord were the places of her birth
She got her red stripes from the blood spilled upon the earth
When men of every age and station fought to make us free
Little did they know then what a symbol she would be

Clark and Lewis held her high as they explored this land
Her colors waved throughout the West and crossed the Rio Grande
Through sacrifice with vision, as we spread from sea to sea
She marked every single step and hard-won victory

Chorus:  Through the challenges of history, our flag stood tall and true
Through battle-scarred and weather-torn was she
Today she represents the pride of all the souls who served and died
That's why for you and me she'll always be
Old Glory ... Old Glory

She watched over Ellis Island and the hundred foreign tongues
Of the displaced, the misplaced and the persecuted ones
No other nation on this earth would give safe haven to
If she could speak she'd say it was the least that she could do

The Constitution's Bill of Rights, Lincoln on his throne
The Jefferson Memorial, the Capitol's dome
Arlington's white crosses, even Vietnam's black wall
She celebrates our honor as she flies above them all

Chorus:  Through the challenges of history, our flag stood tall and true
Through battle-scarred and weather-torn was she
Today she represents the pride of all the souls who served and died
That's why for you and me she'll always be
Old Glory ... Old Glory.

To purchase a copy of the Old Glory CD:

Send check or money order for $5.99 (which includes shipping and handling) to:

Old Glory CD
P.O. Box 187
Spearfish, SD 57783

Please allow at least two weeks for delivery.
 

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