Songs Sung Red, White, and Blue: The Stories Behind America's Best-Loved Patriotic SongsLearn the unforgettable true stories behind two centuries of America’s favorite songs from “America the Beautiful” to “You’re a Grand Old Flag”. Throughout our nation’s history, patriotic songs have lifted our spirits during hard times and brought us closer to our heritage and to each other. Behind these “songs sung red, white, and blue” are unforgettable stories that will enrich your appreciation of their unique power. It’s hard to imagine a single American who hasn't been touched deeply at one time or another by the songs in these pages. From the soaring chorus of “God Bless America” to the quiet poetry of “America the Beautiful,” historian Ace Collins takes you inside the creation of thirty-two classic songs spanning two centuries. Military anthems like “The Marine’s Hymn” and “Anchors Aweigh” share pages with other songs of war, such as the War of 1812’s “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the Civil War’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Popular tunes dating back to the earliest days of our nation, such as “Yankee Doodle,” are included alongside contemporary hits like “God Bless the U.S.A.” Other favorites like “This Land Is Your Land” and “This Is My Country” reflect on our nation in times of peace. You’ll meet a surprising and diverse cast of behind-the-scenes characters, which includes both everyday Americans—teachers, preachers, and soldiers—as well as celebrated songwriters like Irving Berlin and George M. Cohan. Here are songs that are as close to our hearts as any ever written—songs that form a rousing soundtrack to America’s story. |
From inside the book
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Page 1
... anthem . It is doubtful that Dick Holler had ever heard any of the songs written about Lincoln's life and death . Yet in the wake of the assassination of another president , John F. Kennedy , Holler , like millions of other Americans ...
... anthem . It is doubtful that Dick Holler had ever heard any of the songs written about Lincoln's life and death . Yet in the wake of the assassination of another president , John F. Kennedy , Holler , like millions of other Americans ...
Page 4
... anthem , it wasn't a flag - waving ballad or a gospel standard , yet it contained elements of each of these styles . In just four verses and a chorus , it became much more than just another folk - pop standard . What Holler's " Abraham ...
... anthem , it wasn't a flag - waving ballad or a gospel standard , yet it contained elements of each of these styles . In just four verses and a chorus , it became much more than just another folk - pop standard . What Holler's " Abraham ...
Page 8
... anthem could bring the group an identity that would set it apart from every other facet of the army . Besides , Arnold argued , there was a romance that went with the songs of the marines , the navy , and the army , and the Air Corps ...
... anthem could bring the group an identity that would set it apart from every other facet of the army . Besides , Arnold argued , there was a romance that went with the songs of the marines , the navy , and the army , and the Air Corps ...
Page 12
... anthem was the Second World War. As had been the original goal, the song even served to raise morale and interest in the Air Corps. During World War II, “Off We Go” was used in several motion pictures, including the inspirational Air ...
... anthem was the Second World War. As had been the original goal, the song even served to raise morale and interest in the Air Corps. During World War II, “Off We Go” was used in several motion pictures, including the inspirational Air ...
Page 14
... anthem of the Civil War . Bates's " Sleep " did not immedi- ately awaken the public's imagination as did Howe's " Battle Hymn , ” but the little poem did inspire the young woman to continue to write , and from that writing would come a ...
... anthem of the Civil War . Bates's " Sleep " did not immedi- ately awaken the public's imagination as did Howe's " Battle Hymn , ” but the little poem did inspire the young woman to continue to write , and from that writing would come a ...
Contents
1 | |
7 | |
13 | |
20 | |
22 | |
28 Chapter 5Anchors Aweigh | 28 |
Chapter 6 | 34 |
The Ballad of the Green Berets | 38 |
The Marines Hymn | 121 |
My Country Tis of Thee America | 129 |
Chapter 20 Over There | 138 |
Chapter 23 | 148 |
Semper Paratus Always Ready | 149 |
The Stars and Stripes Forever | 153 |
The StarSpangled Banner | 158 |
Taps | 166 |
Battle Cry of Freedom | 46 |
Battle Hymn of the Republic | 54 |
62 Chapter 10 The Battle of New Orleans | 62 |
70 Chapter 11 Columbia the Gem of the Ocean | 70 |
75 Chapter 12 The Fightin Side of | 75 |
Chapter 13 God Bless America | 82 |
91 Chapter 14 God Bless the U S | 91 |
Chapter 15 Hail Columbia | 98 |
105 Chapter 16 Hail to the Chief | 105 |
Chapter 19 | 112 |
Chapter 25 This Is My Country | 173 |
179 Chapter 26 This Is the Army | 179 |
183 Chapter 27 This Land Is Your Land | 183 |
190 Chapter 28 | 191 |
When Johnny Comes Marching Home | 195 |
Chapter 30 Yankee Doodle | 203 |
Chapter 31 The Yellow Rose of Texas | 210 |
Chapter 32 Youre a Grand Old Flag | 218 |
225 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS | 225 |
Other editions - View all
Songs Sung Red, White, and Blue: The Stories Behind America's Best-Loved ... Ace Collins No preview available - 2009 |
Songs Sung Red, White, and Blue: The Stories Behind America's Best-Loved ... Ace Collins No preview available - 2003 |
Common terms and phrases
America the Beautiful American Anchors Aweigh army audience ballad bandmaster battle cry Battle Hymn Becket become began Berlin Bless America Bless the U.S.A. British Broadway called Chief Chorus City Civil Cohan composer concert country music cry of Freedom decades felt fight flag George God Bless America Green Berets Greenwood Guthrie Haggard Hail Columbia heard hurroo inspired Irving Berlin John Philip Sousa Kate Smith knew land later Little Johnny Jones Marine Band Marine's Hymn melody military millions Morris navy Newbury night officer Orleans patriotic penned performed played playlists poem popular president quickly became radio rally realized record released Root Sadler sang scores seemed Shouting the battle sing singer Smith soldiers song song's songwriter Sousa star Star-Spangled Banner story sung teacher theater took tune United verse Vietnam voice words write written wrote Yankee Doodle Dandy Yellow Rose young Zimmermann
Popular passages
Page 17 - 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...
Page 58 - He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat: Oh, be swift, my soul to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on.
Page 58 - In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea. With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me; As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free. While God is marching on.
Page 50 - The Union forever, hurrah! boys, hurrah! Down with the traitor, up with the star, While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again, Shouting the battle cry of Freedom!
Page 17 - 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!
Page 58 - He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on. I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps: His day is marching on.
Page 50 - YES, we'll rally round the flag, boys, We'll rally once again, Shouting the battle cry of Freedom, We will rally from the hillside. We'll gather from the plain, Shouting the battle cry of Freedom.
Page 17 - 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!