My Country, 'Tis of Thee Lyrics
"My Country, 'Tis of Thee," also known simply as "America," is one of the most beloved patriotic songs in American history. Written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831, this hymn served as a de facto national anthem for the United States throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, before "The Star-Spangled Banner" was officially designated in 1931. Its powerful lyrics celebrate American liberty, natural beauty, and the nation's founding principles.
My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims' pride, From ev'ry 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.
History and Background
In February 1831, Samuel Francis Smith, a 23-year-old Baptist seminary student at Andover Theological Seminary in Massachusetts, was asked by his friend Lowell Mason to review some German music books. Smith came across a patriotic German song and was inspired by its melody. In just thirty minutes, he wrote the lyrics to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" to fit the tune.
Interestingly, Smith was unaware that the melody he chose was actually "God Save the King" (or "God Save the Queen"), the British national anthem. The tune, likely composed by Henry Carey in the early 18th century, was already well-known in both Britain and America. Despite this connection to Britain, Smith's distinctly American lyrics celebrating independence and liberty made the song uniquely patriotic to the United States.
The song was first performed publicly on July 4, 1831, at a children's Independence Day celebration at the Park Street Church in Boston. It quickly gained popularity and spread throughout the nation, becoming one of the country's most cherished patriotic songs.
For nearly a century, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" served as America's de facto national anthem. It was commonly sung at patriotic gatherings, school assemblies, and national celebrations. The song maintained its prominent position in American culture even after "The Star-Spangled Banner" became the official national anthem in 1931, and it continues to be performed at patriotic events today.
Cultural Impact
"My Country, 'Tis of Thee" has played a significant role in American civil rights history. Most notably, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. concluded his famous "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963, with references to the song, particularly its iconic phrase "let freedom ring." He repeated this phrase multiple times, referencing various American locations and emphasizing the universal nature of freedom.
The song has been performed at numerous presidential inaugurations and has been sung by generations of American schoolchildren, helping to instill patriotic values and appreciation for American ideals of liberty and freedom.
Samuel Francis Smith went on to become a Baptist minister and wrote many other hymns during his lifetime, but "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" remains his most enduring contribution to American culture. He reportedly said later in life that if he had known the tune was "God Save the King," he might not have used it, but he was glad he did because it gave Americans a familiar melody to unite around with their own patriotic words.