Rather than jumping on the bandwagon, I'd like to suggest we take a moment, and let some words and images waft over us....
The words are from the 1913 version of "America the Beautiful"--if you're an American, you've heard the tune (it's probably in your head now). But sometimes it's important to re-read the words of a song, in an effort to truly understand vs. unthinkingly singing along...
The words are from the 1913 version of "America the Beautiful"--if you're an American, you've heard the tune (it's probably in your head now). But sometimes it's important to re-read the words of a song, in an effort to truly understand vs. unthinkingly singing along...
- O beautiful for spacious skies,
- For amber waves of grain,
- For purple mountains' majesty
- Above the fruited plain!
- America! America!
- God shed his grace on thee
- And crown thy good with brotherhood (Brotherhood: "An association, united for a common purpose)
- From sea to shining sea!
- O beautiful for pilgrim (Pilgrim: "One who journeys in foreign lands.") feet
- Whose stern impassioned stress
- A thoroughfare of freedom beat
- Across the wilderness! (In other words, thanks for the people who came to this country and settled here. IE, IMMIGRANTS, unless they were Native Americans. Note too all were thanked, not just a "select few who looked alike.)
- America! America!
- God mend thine every flaw (and truly today, we have LOTS of flaws to be mended, am I right?),
- 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 (Mercy: "kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly. Kindness or help given to people who are in a very bad or desperate situation.") 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!
- Katharine Lee Bates wrote the words to what in time became known as the song, "America the Beautiful", after a trip from the East Coast to the Western part of the United States--she stopped in Kansas and while teaching in Colorado, made it to Pike's Peak. Think of it as an early "Come See America" infomercial.
If it were me, seeing this kind of beauty for the first time, I would want to write about it. I would want to share, in some way, the beauty with my friends. Ms. Bates was kind enough to share her words, and we are fortunate that her words have stayed with us all these years. Have stayed with ALL of us, not just the select few. Have inspired MANY of us, not just the white skins or the 4th generation American--I daresay ANYONE who sees Pike's Peak for the first time will hear the words of Ms. Bates in their head, especially any child who has had a music class in any school in America. - And here's the thing. If you've taken time to read her words, you cannot still think these words should only be spoken in English. For if America has ever inspired you in any way, you should be pleased to share that inspiration with anyone, in any way they will understand--including any of the eight languages used in the Coke commercial last night.
- So, take a breath, get a grip, let that bandwagon go on...or make a vow to yourself to NEVER, ever sing the following songs in English, with an American accent (because these songs don't belong to you):
- Ave Maria
- Silent Night
- You'll Never Walk Alone
- Danny Boy
- O Tannenbaum
No comments:
Post a Comment