Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
God Bless America
Irving Berlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Land that I love
Stand beside her
And guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains
To the prairies
White with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home
From the mountains
To the prairies
To the oceans
White with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home
God bless America
My home sweet home
The song "God Bless America" is a patriotic song that is also considered to be one of the most famous and beloved songs in the United States. The first verse of the song is a call to bless America and acknowledges the love that the singer (presumably Irving Berlin, the songwriter) has for his country. He asks for America to be protected and guided through the darkness by a higher power, "the light from above".
The second verse describes America's natural beauty, with its mountains, prairies, and oceans that are white with foam; a reference to the waves crashing on the shore. It is in this verse that the song highlights the diversity of America's natural landscapes, and its people who are united under one nation. The final repetition of the verse brings everything back to the singer's love of America and ends on the declaration "my home sweet home".
Overall, the song "God Bless America" is an expression of love and pride for one's country. It acknowledges the beauty of America's natural landscapes and the importance of having a guiding light to help the country through difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
God bless America
May the divine entity bless the United States of America
Land that I love
A country that I have an intense feeling of affection towards
Stand beside her
Be steadfast in support of the country
And guide her
Provide assistance to guide the country
Through the night with the light from above
Lead the country through difficulties with divine intervention
From the mountains
From the elevated landforms
To the prairies
To the vast grasslands
To the oceans
To the bodies of saltwater
White with foam
Foamy due to strong waves
God bless America
May the divine entity bless the United States of America
My home sweet home
My comfortable and beloved place of residence
From the mountains
From the elevated landforms
To the prairies
To the vast grasslands
To the oceans
To the bodies of saltwater
White with foam
Foamy due to strong waves
God bless America
May the divine entity bless the United States of America
My home sweet home
My comfortable and beloved place of residence
God bless America
May the divine entity bless the United States of America
My home sweet home
My comfortable and beloved place of residence
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TresLanes
What an inspiration his life was. I'm 62 but still too young to really "know" his music. He was incredibly blessed with the gift of song crafting and never stopped loving the country that, in his words, "allowed" him to succeed in life. If we could all be so lucky! God rest your soul, Mr. Berlin!!
@guydavidknollcomedy
As a second generation Jewish American this really brings a tear to my eye. Irving Berlin having such love for the country that welcomed him in is so beautiful
@firstlast9292
Imperial Russia wasn't a fun place for Jews. And the communist Soviet Union that preached equality wasn't that much better.
@stuffguy6664
he was not even born in America too he was a immigrant jew from Russia bless this man! true patriotism!
@mhirsch2847
Well said!
@jocolope
This old proud New Yorker wrote all the chit on paper punchin his black key finger playing piano data fuhqs who need a pencil to mark their X. Yer Franky Sinatra's from Italy wrote squat and yer natural born dancin Elvis wrote squat too. Cadillac told me with epee!
@johne7345
This story is similar to that of Igor Sikorsky, who founded the aircraft company that bore his name and is now part of Lockheed Martin. Sikorsky's website always included the tagline, "Russian by birth, American by choice." In the early days, his fledgling company was saved from bankruptcy by a generous loan from another great Russian American, Sergei Rachmaninoff, who told him, "I believe in you, and I believe in your company. Pay me back when you can," which of course he did.
@alexanderbusen7868
Sorry, but he was born in Belarus, not Russia.
@SuperPindos
That's why. He knew the price. His parents paid it, and told him how much it cost.
@daughterofjerusalem8483
His name was Israel Baline, the son of a cantor in Russia.
If anyone loved America, it was Irving Berlin, who knew what America stood for.