University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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America the Beautiful

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/98afac00-e466-0135-4ad8-0050569601ca-e

The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions

Descriptive Information

Title
America the Beautiful  
Alternative Title
O Peerless Flag!  
Composer
Fisher, William Arms  
Lyricist
  • Bates, Katharine Lee  
  • Collier, Edward A.  
Publisher
Boston : Oliver Ditson Co.  
Year of Publication
1917  
Date of Copyright
1917-03-09
Physical Description
1 score, mixed voices and piano ([1], 2–7, [1] p.)
Type
Musical notation  
Dedication
Dedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Flags -- United States -- Songs and music.  
Subject - Geographic
United States.  
Lyrics
  • AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
  • [verse 1] 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!
  • [verse 2] O beautiful for pilgrim feet, / Whose stern, impassioned stress / A thoroughfare of freedom beat / Across the wilderness! / America! America! / God mend thine ev'ry flaw, / Confirm thy soul in self-control, / Thy liberty in law!
  • [verse 3] O beautiful for heroes proved / 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 every gain divine!
  • [verse 4] 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!
  • O PEERLESS FLAG!
  • [verse 1] O God, our guide and helper be, / As of our sires before us. / For by Thy favor are we free, / With Freedom's banner o'er us. / Thy sun beholds the circling world, / Thy winds search land and ocean. / But find no fairer flag unfurl'd, / None loved with more devotion.
  • [refrain 1] O peerless Flag, we lift thee high / And furl thy colors never; / Our ringing cheer and battle-cry / America forever!
  • [verse 2] Thy crimson Stripes proclaim the price / Of sovreignty we cherish, / And tell of their sacrifice / Who vow'd "It shall not perish." / Thy cluster'd Stars, so faint and few / When first we were a nation, / Now fill thy field of azure blue, / A glowing constellation.
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 3] Shine on, ye stars of fadeless light, / The wrong'd and weak befriending; / Shine on for Liberty and Right, / For Truth with Mercy blending. / For Peace with Honor shine ye on, / For all Good Will to others, / Till war and wrath and envy gone, / Men live and love as brothers.
  • [refrain 3]
  • [verse 4] Where people "For the people" reign, / Uplift our Ensign royal; / New glory let Old Glory gain / From sons and daughters loyal. / Then shall the Flag of patriot sires / God-given Rights redeeming, / Safeguard our homes and altar-fires, / While far for Freedom streaming.
  • [refrain 4]
Musical Genre
Anthem
Repository
Newberry Library
Rights
The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions
Cover Description
  • Text only, in simple border and with one small ornament.  
  • Top, above border: Complimentary Copy  
  • Top: Our Country — Our Flag  
  • Bottom, above publisher, boxed: America the Beautiful (open score edition) Octavo No. 13,130 8¢ / do. (with three other settings, close score) Octavo No. 12,450 8¢ / O Peerless Flag! (open score edition) Octave No. 13,146 10¢  
Back Cover Description
Text and list of titles n simple border, with ornamental dividers: Attractive School Music  
Interior Description
  • p. 2, below title: Patriotic Hymn  
  • p. 2, BL: Words used by permission of the Author / Orchestra parts, 50¢  
  • p. 3, BR, at end of score: (Feb. 22, 1917)  
  • p. 4, below title: Patriotic Song  
  • p. 4, BL: Orchestra parts, 50¢  
  • p. 7, BR, at end of score: (March 11, 1917)  
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2-3, BR: 5-150-72103-2  
  • Plate numbers: pp. 4-7, BR: 5-151-72104-4  
Performance Medium
Mixed voices and piano.  
Original Location
Box 163
Local Identifier
nda163_098  
Collection Title
James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
Collection
World War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
TitleAmerica the Beautiful  
Alternative TitleO Peerless Flag!  
ComposerFisher, William Arms  
Lyricist
  • Bates, Katharine Lee  
  • Collier, Edward A.  
PublisherBoston : Oliver Ditson Co.  
Year of Publication1917  
Date of Copyright1917-03-09
Physical Description1 score, mixed voices and piano ([1], 2–7, [1] p.)
TypeMusical notation  
DedicationDedication
Subject - Topic
  • World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.  
  • Popular music -- United States -- 1911-1920.  
  • Patriotic music -- United States.  
  • Flags -- United States -- Songs and music.  
Subject - GeographicUnited States.  
Lyrics
  • AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
  • [verse 1] 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!
  • [verse 2] O beautiful for pilgrim feet, / Whose stern, impassioned stress / A thoroughfare of freedom beat / Across the wilderness! / America! America! / God mend thine ev'ry flaw, / Confirm thy soul in self-control, / Thy liberty in law!
  • [verse 3] O beautiful for heroes proved / 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 every gain divine!
  • [verse 4] 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!
  • O PEERLESS FLAG!
  • [verse 1] O God, our guide and helper be, / As of our sires before us. / For by Thy favor are we free, / With Freedom's banner o'er us. / Thy sun beholds the circling world, / Thy winds search land and ocean. / But find no fairer flag unfurl'd, / None loved with more devotion.
  • [refrain 1] O peerless Flag, we lift thee high / And furl thy colors never; / Our ringing cheer and battle-cry / America forever!
  • [verse 2] Thy crimson Stripes proclaim the price / Of sovreignty we cherish, / And tell of their sacrifice / Who vow'd "It shall not perish." / Thy cluster'd Stars, so faint and few / When first we were a nation, / Now fill thy field of azure blue, / A glowing constellation.
  • [refrain 2]
  • [verse 3] Shine on, ye stars of fadeless light, / The wrong'd and weak befriending; / Shine on for Liberty and Right, / For Truth with Mercy blending. / For Peace with Honor shine ye on, / For all Good Will to others, / Till war and wrath and envy gone, / Men live and love as brothers.
  • [refrain 3]
  • [verse 4] Where people "For the people" reign, / Uplift our Ensign royal; / New glory let Old Glory gain / From sons and daughters loyal. / Then shall the Flag of patriot sires / God-given Rights redeeming, / Safeguard our homes and altar-fires, / While far for Freedom streaming.
  • [refrain 4]
Musical GenreAnthem
RepositoryNewberry Library
RightsThe Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to the following terms and conditions: https://www.newberry.org/rights-and-reproductions
Cover Description
  • Text only, in simple border and with one small ornament.  
  • Top, above border: Complimentary Copy  
  • Top: Our Country — Our Flag  
  • Bottom, above publisher, boxed: America the Beautiful (open score edition) Octavo No. 13,130 8¢ / do. (with three other settings, close score) Octavo No. 12,450 8¢ / O Peerless Flag! (open score edition) Octave No. 13,146 10¢  
Back Cover DescriptionText and list of titles n simple border, with ornamental dividers: Attractive School Music  
Interior Description
  • p. 2, below title: Patriotic Hymn  
  • p. 2, BL: Words used by permission of the Author / Orchestra parts, 50¢  
  • p. 3, BR, at end of score: (Feb. 22, 1917)  
  • p. 4, below title: Patriotic Song  
  • p. 4, BL: Orchestra parts, 50¢  
  • p. 7, BR, at end of score: (March 11, 1917)  
  • Plate numbers: pp. 2-3, BR: 5-150-72103-2  
  • Plate numbers: pp. 4-7, BR: 5-151-72104-4  
Performance MediumMixed voices and piano.  
Original LocationBox 163
Local Identifiernda163_098  
Collection TitleJames Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music
CollectionWorld War I Sheet Music from the James Francis Driscoll Collection of American Sheet Music

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