America, the beautiful

July 4, 1895 | Katherine Lee Bates

[AlabasterCity]

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!

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.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd 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.

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.

[AlabasterCity]

It is an absolute pleasure to introduce myself today.

Alabaster City. Pleased to meet you.

[jessduntno]

Howdy ‘Baster. Glorious introduction.

[Retired Greyhound]

Welcome FRiend.

[Leo Farnsworth]

Ray Charles sings it better than you (or did).

Welcome.

[maine yankee]

At the banquet dinner of Americans for Prosperity (AFP) on 8/27 the evening open with a video of Mr. Charles doing this song. Second verse first.

[jessduntno]

“Ray Charles sings it better than you (or did).”

You know Brother Ray gave me real, no sh*t goose bumps with that performance. God bless him and may he finally rest in peace.

[AlabasterCity]

Please forgive me my formatting for a while. It may take some time to get used to this.

[dfwgator]

There were only two singers, that any song they sang, became theirs’ once they sang it. One was Sinatra, the other was Ray Charles.

[Leo Farnsworth]

That’s it.

[jessduntno]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghz4_kikLkE

[Jemian]

Welcome to Free Republic.

I love that hymn.

[jessduntno]

“There were only two singers, that any song they sang, became theirs’ once they sang it. One was Sinatra, the other was Ray Charles.”

Ray had that same talent for phrasing. He also broke a lot of bass men and drummers with his tempos!

[jessduntno]

No sweat. Good introduction.

[Jemian]

I heard a military men’s chorus sing it once. It brought tears. It was sublime in its glory.

[caddie]

Hi AC.
About 8 blocks from where I am now, the song debuted, in a Unitarian Church on Park Street, right next to Boston Common. Don’t know the year, but there is a plaque on the wall of the church commemorating it.
FReegards, c

[Little Bill]

Last time I was there was in 2003 on a FReep, I think that they played America the Subjected.

[caddie]

There is a hugh contingent of closet conservatives here in MA.

I'm series.

[Cyber Liberty]

Welcome to FR. Now, join some of our discussions, already in progress! If you only post to threads you start, your welcome will dry up pretty quickly.

[Little Bill]

I fled after 42 years in the slave State of Mass, stay liquid, gives you options.

[GitmoSailor]

.........Welcome to FRee Republic.........

[R.I.chopper]

So glad you are here AlabasterCity- you made my night

[Semperfiwife]

Who more than self their country loved....would it be that it were true today. It is in the military, but not in anyone the Congress or the President.

[Semperfiwife]

Who more than self their country loved....would it be that it were true today. It is in the military, but not in anyone the Congress or the President.

[TheConservativeParty]

Welcome to FR. Glad to have you aboard!
You might like to check out “Amy’s Place” on FR. Go to the front page of FR. Then at the right is the daily threads list. Just click on “Amy’s Place”. Lots of nice folks there everyday. The Daily Bible posting by TheMayor at “Amy’s Place” is something I enjoy. Hope to see ya there!

[Arrowhead1952]

Another troll gets the ZOT!

[Texas resident]

Great picture.
Check out the wake from the bow.

[BlueLancer]

Okay, I give up ...

... what happened to AlabasterCity?

[FourPeas]

Ah, so my radar didn’t need calibrating. I can check that off my list.

[TheOldLady]

??

Must be another retread?

[Arrowhead1952]

Must have been a retread troll.

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:alabastercity/index?brevity=full;tab=comments

Texas resident, I love that pic

[Condor51]

"Alabaster City. Pleased to meet you."

I guess the Viking Kitties aren't so pleased.
Your IP addy must have gave you away.

Ta-ta, Its been a slice.

[darkwing104]

It is an absolute pleasure to introduce myself today.

Please to meet you. Hope you guess my name...

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Viking Kitty/ZOT ping list!. . . don't be shy.

[manc]

crap too late.

They can’;t help themselves can they.

Ah well the troll will be back on again soon I’m sure

[paulycy]

Someone kept a vigilant eye out on this one.

[stephenjohnbanker]

LOL!

[Ditter]

Danged I missed it! What did Alabaster do?

[dforest]

I missed it too.

[darkwing104]

Danged I missed it! What did Alabaster do?

Probable retread...

[50mm]

Oh, you have to leave? So soon?

[bcsco]

Probable retread...

I take it he wasn't too adept at covering himself.

[Old Sarge]

Let Slip the Kitties' Wrath!

[dixiechick2000]

I haven’t read the thread, so I don’t know why this poster got the ZOT.

I love the pic, though. It’s very manly...;o)

[Arrowhead1952]

I have to think this was another retread troll and the mods caught the IP address.

[dixiechick2000]

These mods...they are really on the ball, aren’t they?

Still love your graphic. I’m glad you had the opportunity to post it, and I had the opportunity to see it. ;o)

[swheats]

Is that what they meant about coming in with guns blazing?

[Arrowhead1952]

These mods...they are really on the ball, aren’t they?

Still love your graphic. . . .

I would not like to be in the mods place, the way some people post their nonsense.

I used to have a lot of pictures of other battleships I used for trolls.

[Arrowhead1952]

Is that what they meant about coming in with guns blazing?

LOL. I guess you could say that.

[dixiechick2000]

I totally agree about the mods...and hope you find those other pics for trolls.

I have a feeling they will be needed more as the mid-term elections get closer.

[Arrowhead1952]

><I have a feeling they will be needed more as the mid-term elections get closer.<<

I don’t know if you saw this thread, but it is as lame as I’ve ever seen. The quality of new trolls has been on the decline lately.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2587857/posts