Happy Fourth of July!

Fourth of July celebrations

In celebration of the Fourth of July, we’re sharing the lyrics of two of America’s greatest songs below, together with pictures from across the country – from sea to shining sea!

See also our reflection on “all things good” in America and recipes for a July picnic.

America, The Beautiful

Written by Katharine Lee Bates (1913)

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!

Kauai Hawaii sunset
Kauai, Hawaii

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern impassion’d stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

Statue of Liberty

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life!

America! America!
May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness,

And ev’ry gain divine!

America, The Beautiful
Catskills, New York

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!

Horse carriage ride Vermont
Pomfret, Vermont; Courtesy of The Harrington Family
My Country ‘Tis of Thee

Written by Samuel Francis Smith (1832)

My country tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim’s pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!

Lake Winnipesaukee NH
Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

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 fills

Like that above.

Maine Botanical Gardens
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens; Boothbay, Maine
Alaska
Kenai River, Alaska

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.

St. Charles River Illinois
St. Charles, Illinois

Our father’s 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!

HHI South Carolina beaches
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

2 thoughts on “Happy Fourth of July!

  • August 20, 2017 at 5:16 pm
    Permalink

    I enjoyed the journey reading the words and seeing your beautiful pictures. Thank you, All Things Good. Be well, Beth

    Reply
    • August 25, 2017 at 7:01 pm
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      Thank you, Beth! We’re glad you enjoyed!

      Reply

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