Folk Song History: "America the Beautiful"
Wednesday July 2, 2008
For the past few weeks, I've been sharing a little bit of the history behind some of our great patriotic American folk songs. As a writer, I really appreciate the elegant beauty of "America the Beautiful." I know it may upset some people to admit it (and others may agree with me), but I've always been quite a bit more moved by this gorgeous hymn than by our national anthem. I'm not alone. There's been a movement for almost 50 years now to make "America the Beautiful" our national anthem, rather than—or, at least, along with—"The Star Spangled Banner."
Personally, I just identify more with the natural beauty and personal hardships that, combined, have perpetuated our country and all the things that are great about it, more than I identify with "bombs bursting in air" (of which I'd prefer to see less). But that's me. And, apparently, that was Katharine Lee Bates, too, at least in part. She's the Wellesley English professor who penned the eloquent tribute in 1893 during a trip to Pike's Peak. With the 4th of July coming up very soon, learn more about the history of "America the Beautiful."
Comments
I’m not in love with our national anthem either (mostly because it’s darn near impossible to sing, for an untrained vocalist), but though the bombs thing is definitely icky, we’ve got NOTHING on the French. La Marseillaise is straight-up gory.
Agreed, though, that America the Beautiful is really amazingly lovely, and the imagery contained within the lyrics still grabs me.