“America is a tune. It must be sung together.” ~Gerald Stanley Lee, Crowds
“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 mountainside let freedom ring!”
Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895
My family cannot control itself, nor should we, nor do we, try. This year as every year, we’ll be boldly singing the full range of patriotic songs to which we claim to know most of the words and 85% of the notes (percent of notes actually hit is another matter).
This Youtube video demonstrates what we sound like in our hearts and minds recognizing all the while that faulty human ear structures may not capture our complex harmonies in quite the same way. And in the process I will claim these cadets as part of our extended family as every American has the honor to do. Anyone dropping by, bring a pitch pipe, your most robust voice, and the understanding of just how lucky we are to live in this country, and, um, dessert, we like desserts.
***Special thanks to my talented husband and Navy veteran, Jonathan Campbell for the gorgeous fireworks photographs that head this post. Photos (c)2011 by Jonathan Campbell; blog editorial is (c)2011 by Alison Colby-Campbell .***
NOW SOME OTHER FAVORITES starring Ray Charles, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Aretha Franklin, Elvis, Trans Siberian Orchestra, fabulous military chorus…enjoy and sing along.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDsVAL7DJ8g&playnext=1&list=PLF35C13C73BBBCEE0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGC4UenXY_w&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C95Cb2ByHNA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6QQGMcGfIQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6gtISlR2dk&feature=related
and finally John Wayne
Have you ever noticed that people stand taller when they sing these promises of commitment, thankfulness and sorrow that is felt because of those who wear uniforms of the military. Support takes on many different shapes. To those who have given any part of their life (including death) from the Mayflower to the John F Kennedy … thank you. I celebrate you all, and will sing with my head held high, be it for a first hello or a last goodbye. God Bless America
lovely comment, Linda
Pkease let me know if you can see the fireworks photos in the blog header, I’ve heard it cant be seen on some computers, thx
I see fireworks. Nice. Chrome, Firefox, and IE all work.
Rambo – flashbacks????