My Country,'Tis of Thee

I've been humming or singing My Country 'Tis of Thee since we sang it in church last  Sunday.   Written in 1831 by Samuel F. Smith, My Country 'Tis of Thee, was unofficially used as our national anthem before the Star Spangled Banner became the offical national anthem. As we celebrate the birth of our nation, it seems fitting to reflect on the words of this precious hymn and give thanks for the men and women that have served our country both past and present to preserve the freedoms that we enjoy today.


My Country, 'Tis of Thee

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.

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!

                                        God Bless America!