Her musical career began in earnest when she was discovered in 1930 by Columbia Records vice president Ted Collins, who became her longtime partner and manager and who put her on the radio in 1931. She sang the controversial top twenty song of 1931, "That's Why Darkies Were Born". She starred in the 1932 movie Hello Everybody!, with co-stars Randolph Scott and Sally Blane, and in 1943 she sang "God Bless America" in the wartime picture This is the Army. Irving Berlin had written the song in 1938 for her, and it is considered "the second National Anthem" of the United States. Its popularity and constant airplay led Woody Guthrie to pen the original version of "This Land Is Your Land" in protest at the Berlin tune's unquestioning complacency.
Kate began making records in 1926; among her biggest hits were "River, Stay 'Way From My Door" (1931), "The Woodpecker Song" (1940), "The White Cliffs of Dover" (1941), "Rose O'Day" (1941), "I Don't Want to Walk Without You" (1942), "There Goes That Song Again" (1944), "Seems Like Old Times" (1946), and "Now Is the Hour" (1947). Her theme song was "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain", the lyrics of which she helped write. She greeted audiences with "Hello, everybody!" and signed off with "Thanks for listenin'."
Her oversized figure made her the occasional butt of derision from fellow performers and managers. Despite the occasional ridicule, Smith was a major star of radio, usually backed by Jack Miller's Orchestra. She began in 1931 with her twice-a-week NBC series, Kate Smith Sings (which quickly expanded to six shows a week), followed by a series of shows for CBS: Kate Smith and Her Swanee Music (1931-33), sponsored by La Palina Cigars; The Kate Smith Matinee (1934-35); The Kate Smith New Star Revue (1934-35); Kate Smith's Coffee Time (1935-36), sponsored by A&P; and The Kate Smith A&P Bandwagon (1936-37).
For eight years (1937-45), The Kate Smith Hour was a leading radio variety show, offering comedy, music and drama with appearances by top personalities of films and theater. The nationwide audience was introduced to comedy by the show's resident comics, Abbott and Costello and Henny Youngman, while a series of sketches led to The Aldrich Family as a spin-off in 1940. She continued into the 1950s on the Mutual Broadcasting System, CBS, ABC and NBC, doing both music and talk shows.
An unusual part of her career began on December 11, 1969, when the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team played her rendition of "God Bless America" before the game. Philadelphia beat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 6-3. The team would begin to play the song before home games every once in a while, and the perception developed that the team was more successful on these occasions, so the tradition grew.
Kate Smith, who never married, died of diabetes at the age of 79 in Raleigh, North Carolina, several years after converting to Roman Catholicism. (from Wikipedia)
God Bless America
Kate Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans 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
Kate Smith's rendition of "God Bless America" has become an iconic patriotic hymn in the United States of America. The song is a powerful tribute to the beauty and resilience of America as a land of freedom and opportunity. The lyrics of the song speak to the love for the country and the need for divine guidance to help America navigate through tough times. The opening verse, "God bless America, land that I love," portrays the deep and unwavering love that the singer has for her country. The line "stand beside her and guide her" reinforces the idea that America is in need of divine intervention and support to help her through her struggles.
The following verse shows the vastness and beauty of America, from the majestic mountains, to the expansive prairies, and to the ocean's vast expanse. The repetition of the phrase "God Bless America, my home sweet home," emphasizes the deep attachment and fondness for the country, while also instilling a sense of pride and patriotism in the listener. This hymn has been played at many patriotic events, including on national holidays and during political campaigns, and has become a symbol of America's resilience and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
God bless America, land that I love
May America be blessed; it is the country that I cherish
Stand beside her and guide her
Be next to America and lead it
Through the night with the light from above
Bring the light from the heavens to guide America through the darkness
From the mountains to the prairies
From the elevated hills to the expansive grass plains
To the oceans white with foam
To the foamy, churning ocean waves
God bless America, my home sweet home
May America, the country where I feel most secure and comfortable, be blessed
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arizonajohn4894
As a senior citizen I get tears everytime I hear this song😢 she was so special .
@rofalise6809
Absolutely! I wish more people felt this way.
@lawrencehawkins7198
Back when American Patriotism wasn't considered wrong, or Love of Country wasn't considered immoral, Americans sang this song.
@adelehldwy7910
People have a choice to decide, save America with Legal system voting or Let the swamp creatures Pick ⛏️ for US!!
@adelehldwy7910
The Philippines already BANNED SMARTMATIC VOTING MACHINES!! THE UNITED STATES'OF AMERICA SHOULD BAN** SMARTMATIC VOTING MACHINES AND DOMINION VOTING MACHINES 🇺🇲🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫⛏️⛏️⛏️
@adelehldwy7910
IF THE AMERICAN CITIZENS WANT FREE ELECTIONS 🇺🇲 THEN DEMAND IT!!! 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
@lunalas
Yes. I miss it terribly. We should go back to this. Let people be jealous. God bless!
🙏✌️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@davidcosta2244
@@adelehldwy7910This poster is one of the problems with the current society. They responded to an observation that many today consider patriotism akin to racism, and adds to the modern sentiment. Methinks that ti's poster should just listen to this song several more times to completely understand its meaning.
@florarakes7216
Can you watch this without getting emotional? I can't.😢
@CatsAgainstCommunism
No. It gets me every time, especially now..