Click here for New Patriotic Song: "God Will Bless America Tonight".
Patriotic music has empowered Patriots of all nations, always. An American child, I was delighted with Our Favorites, played on our RCA Victor, at Town Parades & Picnics and sung at school & home! In these days of special Patriotic awareness, Spectactular TV Coverage of the new Patriotic Holiday Concerts reach more of us, and better. If they reach our Souls half as well, the American Spirit may inspire, and be well-inspired, once again !
His popularity spanned a century, two world wars,and he was the
only musician, I think, to have won a Congressional Medal of Honor
(from President Franklin Roosevelt in 1942).
In "Yankee Doodle Dandy,George M. Cohan sings that he was
"Born on the Fourth of July", only a mild exaggeration, to take
his July 3,1878 birthday over the top! His parents,Jeremiah and Helen,
and one sister, Josephine were performing artists, and George's
song and dance talents showed strong immediately, till he was
obviously the headliner, though still a boy.
"In 1899 the Four Cohans" were joined by a fifth, Ethel Levey,
George's first wife, and all experienced continued success and
prosperity in their work, creating entire shows from scripts to scores
and performing them, nationally and internationally.
In 1904, George formed a partnership with Sam Harris that resulted
in their entirely dominating Broadway for some years - at one time,
they had no fewer than 7shows running simultaneously on Broadway!
In 1907 George divorced Ethel,
re-marrying Agnes Nolan, sister to Harris' wife.
Times change, and popular styles change, too.
Cohan's success waned with age, but he continued successfully,
doing a little in Hollywood, and supervising his own biography: the
famous film, "Yankee Doodle Dandy", which won the Academy Award
for actor James Cagney.
He finished life, too, with the showman's flourish:
giving a patriotic boost to the public in World War II with his
musical biography in the theaters; with the Congressional Medal;
with his farewell to Broadway and straight on to life's grand finale,
with his death on November 5, all in 1942.
"You're A Grand Old Flag"
You're A Grand Old Flag !
You're a high flying flag !
And forever, in peace,
may you wave.
You're the emblem of
the land I love,
The home of the free
and the brave!
Ev'ry heart beats true
'Neath the
Red, White and Blue,
Where ther's never
A boast or brag !
But, should auld acquaintance
Be forgot,
Keep your eye on
The grand old flag !
Televised Specials, like the Memorial Day Concert, and
"A Capitol Fourth", with The White House glowing in the background,
and Sound & Light all around, share reminders of the profound sense
of what it means to be a Citizen of the World 2005.
How different ! How much the same!
Time and Distance meaning so little when such performances
are experienced, "Live", worldwide!
We feed ourselves well on the Jubilant message of
Hope, Victory, Compassion, and Support for the people,
and for the day when we fall and need the help.
Please don't say: "Just a Song & Dance",
When Patriot's in Arts empower, sustain and heal !
For example:
Written and Copyright by Ed Gowens (BM)) 2002 Mr. Gowens wrote the song, about that special night of Nineleven when so many of us looked to heavens in a way we had never done before ~ The Air Force flying overhead, in protective initiative, with the Angels ~ and our Faith, Hope and Love ~ on their wings! Profoundly aware of ourselves as Americans and God's own!
You know She's a real beauty She's about the prettiest thing I guess I've ever seen She's also a wonder and she always guards me in my sleep and as I dream She's really amazing too She stands guard and she protects all of her children in their homes She loves them all and she unites them together, So no matter what happens none of them will ever, ever feel alone
(Chorus)
We live in America the Great ! Old Glory wave for Freedom ! And remember it's never too late To stand up with each other And fight for what's right And God will bless America Tonight!
American Soldiers they're away from their homes and standing up for all of us, tonight They're over there fighting and they'll show the world how free we are And they won't give our Freedom up to anyone without a fight And these great Heroes, You know, they come from about every walk of life They're young and old Men and Women, with both white and blue collars But to God in Heaven And in America, They're all alike
(Chorus)
We live in America the Great ! Old Glory wave for Freedom ! And remember it's never too late To stand up with each other And fight for what's right And God will bless America Tonight!
I pray that someday once again, there'll be peace in this Old World, but here, tonight As I kneel on these old bended knees and look toward the Heavens I pray to our Heavenly Father that the rest of the world will do what's right. And if they don't With spread wings of Freedom that Great Eagle will stand with all her might and she'll end all suffering and oppression and beside her We should all stand tall and help her win this fight
(Chorus)
We live in America the Great ! Old Glory wave for Freedom ! And remember it's never too late To stand up with each other And fight for what's right And God will bless America Tonight!
God will bless America tonight
Irving Berlin ~ "God Bless America" & Kate Smith
It is not possible to think of one without the others. Irving Berlin lived to be 101, and, for every one of those years, he shone for America in special ways. The Song is an icon, and the singer, Washington, D.C.-born songstress, Kate Smith made this song famous as shadows loomed for World War II. Russian-born American Composer, Irving Berlin(1888-1989) wrote the song for a World War I show when he served at Camp Upton, in Yaphank, Long Island in 1918.
Mr.Berlin is another patriotic music icon, and lifelong worked at very popular patriotic projects in every form: songs, live shows and films. Most wonderfully, having "made his million" he would donate ALL the profits for some of them, to patriotic recipients.
Here is the song, in the WWII star-studded film "This is the Army" (1943) as it was performed by Kate Smith on Armistice Day, November 11,1938, it became OUR "God Bless America" and second only to our National Anthem in every way.
The special true-heartedness and patriotism that Kate Smith brought to the song won her immortality,and our love. Plain or fancy, rich or poor, we all knew Kate Smith and loved her and we all sang the song, vying for the ability to feel and express our Love of Country as she did.
plus actual Kate Smith radio sound track here ... just scroll down!
When introducing her to the King of England, Franklin D. Roosevelt said "Kate Smith IS America" She performed the song in Film in 1943, recorded it with "the Star Spangled Banner" on the flip side, and spoke to Congress encouraging them to stay with the "Star-spangled Banner" when they thought to make "God Bless America" our national anthem instead. She performed it again at our Bi-centennial,1976, a few years before her death in 1981.
Our American Senators sang the song on the Capitol Steps on September 11, 2001. Few others come near it. God Bless America!
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Author: Irving Berlin, 1918; revised 1938
Spoken Introduction:
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains, To the prairies,
To the ocean, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home!
The image above is how I remember her best on her tv show when I was a girl,
singing her theme song, "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain". It is among a fine collection of clips at YouTube.
Not Permitted to link directly here, or I would, to make it easier for you. But it is just as well, since both sites offer a dozen or more Kate Smith files. Enjoy them all, if you like! It's a treat for fans, and free !
I know little about the following song, except the hearty memory of my Father and his brothers singing it, and lighting up the day with fighting spirit in a moment! Will research and gladly accept notes from visitors about it:
"Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition"
by Frank Loesser, 1943
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!
And we'll all stay free!
Praise the Lord and swing into position,
Can't afford to be a politician.
Praise the Lord, we're all between perdition
And the deep blue sea!
Yes, the sky pilot said it,
You've got to give him credit,
For a son-of-a-gunner was he, shouting:
Praise the Lord, we're on a mighty mission!
All aboard! We ain't a-goin' fishin'.
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition,
And we'll all stay free! (repeat first four lines)
Born Ellen Jane Froman, she would be 100 years old, November 10, 2007, and the honors and events will be lovely.
This site is comprehensive one, sure to please all Jane Froman fans, and win some new ones!
Don't miss these!Go to YouTube.com or to RealPlayer Audio/video, and ask "Jane Froman" in the site Search Engines.
There are audio and video clips of Jane, herself; Susan Hayward's famous performance in Janes BioPic; and Jane's present
famous songstress, Valerie Lemon. All are very nice!
Remembered by my generation from the film of her life, Starring Susan Hayward, who won the Academy Award for her performance in the role of Ms.Froman. (Jane Froman's voice was dubbed in for the songs,and the album from it a very big hit)! Oscars.org > 1952- (25th Academy Awards- bestACTRESS-Susan Hayward -- With a Song in My Heart {"Jane Froman"} "
A top female vocalist, previously a major star in nightclubs and later in early television, she was injured in a USO plane , in 1943, route to entertain military overseas during World War II. Her life was a portrait in beauty, talent, and courage, enduring longterm suffering from leg injuries, requiring surgery after surgery, and painful therapies.
Throughout the ordeal, she performed beautifully, and as successfully as ever, courageously,
and inspired injured military overseas by continuing her USO committments, over 90 concerts! On crutches
herself, she sang on battlefields, to wounded soldiers and "With a Song in Her Heart". At one point, under the elegant gowns she wore so beautifully, were hidden props and struts, like a doll stand, to help her achieve a normal, morale-boosting, glamorous appearance. It was 39 surgeries before she was ok. And she herself with horrible moments of despair along the way.
Her wartime song :"I'll Walk Alone" still inspires, as do "With A Song In My Heart", the famous "Blue Moon", and "I Believe" which marked the first time a song was performed, for the firs time, on TV .
Such a real-life romantic figure truly inspired my friends and myself as girls. We would wonder: "Do you think we could ever be so brave and stay so beautiful, too?"
Ellen May Smith was my maiden name, and Ellen Jane Froman Smith's married name, I learned later...she didn't have to be so nice, I would have loved her, anyway!
The film of her story also marked an early appearance of later major heart-throb Robert Wagner. His role as one of the young wounded soldiers Ms.Froman entertained in the scene, inspired the line I always remember from the film, for its ultimate in compassionate delivery: "What's the matter soldier?" she called to him, in the audience at her feet, like a big-sister. In the scene, he was new to
crutches and bashful, too, but Jane insisted, with her presence, more than her words, from her "barbie-doll" support stand:
"I am brave , you can be brave, too! And I am going to love you with all my heart all through it!"........WOW!
I can't post sales links, but her albums are available online, for listening/purchase; copies of "Jane Froman Show" TV videos
Thank you, Jane Froman.
-elle
I'll Walk Alone
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Music by Jule Styne
I'll walk alone,
Because, to tell you the truth, I'll be lonely,
I don't mind being lonely,
When my heart tells me you are lonely, too!
I'll walk alone,
They'll ask me why, and I'll tell them, I 'd rather,
There are dreams I must gather,
Dreams we fashioned the night you held me tight!
I'll always be near you, wherever you are,
Each night in ev'ry prayer,
If you call, I'll hear you, no matter how far,
Just close your eyes and I'll be there!
Please walk alone,
And send your love and your kisses to guide me,
Till you're waling beside me,
I'll walk alone !
With A Song In My Heart
With A Song In My Heart I behold your adorable face.
Just a song at the start, But it soon is a hymn to your grace . . .
When the music swells, I'm touching your hand,
It tells that you're standing near, And . . .
At the sound of your voice, Heaven opens its portals to me.
Can I help but rejoice, That a song such as ours came to be?
But I always knew ,
I would live life through,
With A Song In My Heart, For you !
~ from the 1948 M-G-M film "Words and Music"
Music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart
I Believe
I believe, for ev'ry drop of rain that falls,
A flower grows !
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night,
A candle glows !
I believe for ev'ryone who goes astray,
Someone will come, to show the way !
I believe! I believe!
I believe that, in the dark, the smallest prayer,
Will still be heard.
I believe that someone, in "the Great Somewhere",
Hears ev'ry word !
Ev'ry time I hear a newborn baby cry,
Or touch a leaf, or see the sky,
Then I know why I believe!
Russian-born American Composer, Irving Berlin(1888-1989) wrote the song for a World War I show
