America the Beautiful by Free – Key of A

The original lyrics were written sometime in the 1890s by a Wellesley College English professor named Katharine Lee Bates, who wrote it as a poem. In 1926, the poem was combined with the music of a hymn written by Samuel Ward called “Materna” for a contest by the National Federation of Music Clubs.

Bates was inspired by the beauty of nature during a lecture tour in Colorado Springs. She recalled just before her death in 1929: “One day, some of the other teachers and I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. We hired a prairie wagon. Near the top we had to leave the wagon and go the rest of the way on mules. I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there. We stood at last on that Gate-of-Heaven summit, hallowed by the worship of perished races, and gazed in wordless rapture over the far expanse… It was then and there, as I was looking out over the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under those ample skies, that the opening lines of the hymn floated into my mind.”

The poem first appeared in a Boston church publication called The Congregationalist on July 4, 1895, with the editor’s introductory note: “Miss Bates’s poem has the true patriotic ring pertinent to Fourth of July.” Many Americans feel this should be their National Anthem, rather than the “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Popular Version written in 1911

 

Popular Version written in 1911

O {G} beautiful for {D7} spacious skies, for {A7} amber waves of {G} grain,
For {G} purple mountain {D7} Majesties {C} above the fruited {G} plain!
{D} America! {G} America! God {A7} shed His grace on {G} thee
And {D} crown thy good with {G} brotherhood
From {D7} sea to {A7} shining {G} 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!

Original poem (1893)

O beautiful for halcyon skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain Majesties  above the enameled plain!
America! America!  God shed His grace on thee,
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness!
America! America!  God shed His grace on thee.
Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale, of liberating strife,
When once or twice, for man’s avail,  men lavished precious life!
America! America!  God shed His grace on thee.
Till selfish gain no longer stain,  the banner of the free!

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.
Till nobler men keep once again – Thy whiter jubilee!

First version set to music in 1904

O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain Majesties above the fruited plain!
America! America!  Our Liberty defined.
Please lead the way, through all our day
And we will walk behind.

O beautiful for pilgrim feet whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness.
America! America!  God mend thine ev’ry flaw.
Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for glory-tale of liberating strife,
When valiantly for man’s avail men lavished precious 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.

FROM PLAZA VIEW BOOK:

14. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL 1910
___________MUSIC –1892 WORDS –1895
OH 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.
OH 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.
OH 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.

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