By Rev. Samuel F. Smith - 1832
Commonly referred to as America
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 mountain
side
Let Freedom ring.
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.
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.
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.
Our glorious Land to-day,
'Neath Education's sway,
Soars upward
still.
Its hills of learning fair,
Whose bounties all may share,
Behold
them everywhere
On vale and hill!
Thy safeguard, Liberty,
The school shall ever be,
Our Nation's
pride!
No tyrant hand shall smite,
While with encircling might
All here
are taught the Right
With Truth allied.
Beneath Heaven's gracious will
The stars of progress still
Our course
do sway;
In unity sublime
To broader heights we climb,
Triumphant over
Time,
God speeds our way!
Grand birthright of our sires,
Our altars and our fires
Keep we still
pure!
Our starry flag unfurled,
The hope of all the world,
In peace and
light impearled,
God hold secure!