My country, 'tis of thee (Traditional)

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• (Posted 2008-05-07)  CPDL #16830:        (Sibelius 4)        

Editor: Theresa A. Steiner (submitted 2008-05-07).   Score information: Letter, 1 page, 58 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: All six verses included.

• (Posted 2001-01-16)  CPDL #01980:        (Finale 1998)

Editor: Rafael Ornes (submitted 2001-01-16).   Score information: Letter, 1 page, 17 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Verses one to four included.

General Information

Title: My Country, 'Tis of Thee aka America, my country 'tis of thee
Composer: Anonymous, melody derived from the British national anthem, God Save the King
Lyricist: Samuel Francis Smith

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Hymn

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published:
Description: This version is derived from the 1917 edition of 55 Songs and Choruses for Community Singing. The original version begins with this introductory text:

"Several nations have used this splendid dignified tune, either as a national anthem,

or as a composition of the utmost importance. Parts of the melody have been traced

back as far as Dr. John Bull (1563-1628), but the composer of the melody in its final

form is still unknown, though many continue to credit it to Henry Carey, an Englishman (1690-1743).

The words were written in 1832 by Reverend S. F. Smith, an American clergymen.

The song was first sung publicly at a children's celebration of American independence in the Park

Street Church, Boston, July 4, of that year. Numerous other verses have been written to this melody.

Two of the best are the ones below by Henry Van Dyke."

External websites:

• PDF scan of the original from 55 Songs and Choruses for Community Singing
• Wikipedia article

Original text and translations

English text

1.
My country 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died !
Land of the pilgrims' pride
From ev'ry mountainside
Let freedom ring !

2.
My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love:
I love thy rocks and rills
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

3.
Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom's song:
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

4.
Our fathers' God, to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing:
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!

5.
We love thine inland seas,
Thy groves and giant trees,
Thy rolling plains;
Thy rivers' mighty sweep,
Thy mystic canyons deep,
Thy mountains wild and steep,--
All thy domains.

6.
Thy silver Eastern strands,
Thy Golden Gate that stands
Fronting the West;
Thy flowery Southland fair,
Thy North's sweet, crystal air:
O Land beyond compare,
We love thee best!