This is Revolutionary War song is thought to have begun as a British song mocking the Americans. But the Americans quickly adopted it and wrote their own lyrics.
Yankee Doodle went to town A-riding on a pony Stuck a feather in his hat And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up Yankee Doodle dandy Mind the music and the step And with the girls be handy.
Father and I went down to camp Along with Captain Gooding And there we saw the men and boysAs thick as hasty pudding.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up Yankee Doodle dandy Mind the music and the step And with the girls be handy
There was General Washington Upon a slapping stallion A-giving orders to his men I guess there was a million.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up Yankee Doodle dandy Mind the music and the step And with the girls be handy.
In 1931, the United States adopted this as its national anthem. The song was composed by Francis Scott Key in 1814.
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Written by the great songwriter Irving Berlin in 1938, this is one of the most popular patriotic songs.
God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home.
The words to this patriotic song were written in 1895 as a poem by Katharine Lee Bates, an English professor. The words were later put to music composed by Samuel A. Ward.
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!
Samuel F. Smith wrote the words to this song in 1831. The melody is that of the British national anthem “God Save the Queen.”
My country, ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims’ pride, From every mountainside, Let freedom ring!
Woody Guthrie wrote this popular song in 1940 as a response to another patriotic song, “God Bless America.”
This Land Is Your Land
This land is your land, this land is my land From California, to the New York Island From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters This land was made for you and me.
As I was walking a ribbon of highway I saw above me an endless skyway I saw below me a golden valley This land was made for you and me.
This land is your land, this land is my land From California, to the New York Island From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters This land was made for you and me.
Written in 1896 by John Philip Sousa, this patriotic music in 1987 was made the National March of the United States. It is often played by bands, but the words are seldom sung.
Boston Pops:
Acoustix:
Muppets:
Stars and Stripes Forever
Let martial note in triumph float And liberty extend its mighty hand A flag appears ‘mid thunderous cheers, The banner of the Western land. The emblem of the brave and true Its folds protect no tyrant crew; The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom’s shield and hope. Other nations may deem their flags the best And cheer them with fervid elation But the flag of the North and South and West Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom’s nation.
This patriotic song was popular in the 19th century. Columbia was a nickname for the United States. It along with “Hail Columbia” and “My Country ’Tis of Thee” competed to be the U.S. national anthem.
O Columbia! the gem of the ocean, The home of the brave and the free, The shrine of each patriot’s devotion, A world offers homage to thee; Thy mandates make heroes assemble, When Liberty’s form stands in view; Thy banners make tyranny tremble, When borne by the red, white, and blue, When borne by the red, white, and blue, When borne by the red, white, and blue, Thy banners make tyranny tremble, When borne by the red, white and blue.
The music was composed by Philip Phile for George Washington’s inauguration in 1789. A few years later, Joseph Hopkinson wrote the words. Today it is the entrance music for the U.S. vice president.
Hail Columbia, happy land! Hail, ye heroes, heav’n-born band, Who fought and bled in freedom’s cause, Who fought and bled in freedom’s cause, And when the storm of war was gone Enjoy’d the peace your valor won. Let independence be our boast, Ever mindful what it cost; Ever grateful for the prize, Let its altar reach the skies.
Firm, united let us be, Rallying round our liberty, As a band of brothers joined, Peace and safety we shall find.
George M. Cohan wrote this patriotic song in 1906 for a musical. Cohan wrote many popular songs, including patriotic songs such as “Yankee Doodle Boy” and “Over There.”
You’re a grand old flag, You’re a high flying flag And forever in peace may you wave. You’re the emblem of The land I love. The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats true ‘neath the Red, White and Blue, Where there’s never a boast or brag. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
You’re a grand old flag, You’re a high flying flag And forever in peace may you wave. You’re the emblem of The land I love. The home of the free and the brave. Ev’ry heart beats true ‘neath the Red, White and Blue, Where there’s never a boast or brag. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
