My Country ’Tis of Thee

WORDS: SAMUEL F. SMITH, 1831, TUNE: AMERICA, ANONYMOUS.

First Verse:

My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing:

Land where my father’s died, land of the pilgrims’ pride, from every mountain side let freedom ring!

Second Verse:

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.

Third Verse:

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.

Fourth Verse:

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!

All photo credits: J. Heston. Location: Jefferson City, Missouri • SOTO © Archive 06/15/06