“God Bless America” was composed by Irving Berlin in 1918 but was not introduced to the public until Kate Smith performed it in 1938. Berlin revised the lyrics in 1938 to create a song of peace, and Smith’s performance made it an instant hit. The song was recorded and royalties were dedicated to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Despite calls to make it the national anthem, Smith argued that the Star Spangled Banner should not be replaced. The song experienced a resurgence after 9/11.
“God Bless America” is the unofficial patriotic anthem of the United States of America. First composed by Irving Berlin in 1918, the song was not introduced to the public until singer Kate Smith performed the song in a revised form in 1938 during a radio broadcast. An instant hit, the score for “God Bless America” was in high demand and the broadcast is considered a historic event.
Berlin, a Siberian immigrant, wrote the original version of the song during World War I, where he was stationed at Camp Upton, Long Island, New York. Berlin composed the song as part of a comedy revue called Yip, Yip, Yaphank. Berlin, or perhaps the show’s producers, decided, however, that the original song was somewhat solemn compared to other components of the show and opted not to include it. The composer set aside the manuscript of the future hymn.
It wasn’t until 1938, when the threat of another war loomed over Europe, that Berlin decided to revise the lyrics of “God Bless America” into a song of peace. At the request of Ted Collins, Smith’s manager, for a new patriotic song, Berlin began work on a new song. Once he remembered the song from twenty years ago, he quickly began working on revising the lyrics. He produced a first draft on October 31, 1938 and then a final version by November 2. Smith performed the song on his radio broadcast on November 11, 1938, also known as Armistice Day.
Following his inaugural performance, calls came in for a recorded version of “God Bless America.” Smith sang it on most of the radio broadcasts that followed through December 1940. He recorded the anthem for RCA Victor in March 1939. In 1940, Berlin established a fund based on the song and dedicated the royalties to Boy and Girl Scouts of America. At one point, a movement developed to make “God Bless America” the national anthem. Smith herself approached Congress and demanded that she not make such a decision. Her argument was that the official national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner, had been written during a battle and should not be replaced.
The American song experienced a resurgence in 2000 when it was sung at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Following the events of September 11, 2001, the United States Senate sang the song on the steps of the Capitol. When the stock market reopened the following week, it resumed there. At a tribute fundraiser on September 21, 2001, following the terrorist attack, Canadian singer Celine Dion also performed the song. The words “God Bless America” became an unofficial slogan and were printed on flags and other patriotic items.
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