Belated Anniversary Memorial

I missed 9/11, but here are the words to "Of Thee I Sing," by George and Ira Gershwin--which was proposed for the U.S. national anthem, obviously not entirely seriously, by Erik Tarloff on Slate:

Besides, if Josh and Alfred want to insist on something sort of popular and sort of contemporary (if we consider the last 100 years or so contemporary), there's a much better choice. It's a song that expresses love of country, it has some of the irreverence we're proud to regard as a vital aspect of our national character, and it has the additional advantage of coming from a show that won a Pulitzer Prize. It's called "Of Thee I Sing," a title which tips its hat to an older patriotic anthem.

Perhaps it can be taken as a remembrance for the people of New Orleans as well.

8. OF THEE I SING

WINTERGREEN:
From the Island of Manhattan to the Coast of Gold,
From North to South, from East to West,
You are the love I love the best.
You're the dream girl of the sweetest story ever told;
A dream I've sought both night and day
For years through all the U.S.A.
The star I've hitched my wagon to
Is very obviously you.

Of thee I sing, baby-
Summer, autumn, winter, spring, baby.
You're my silver lining,
You're my sky of blue;
There's a love light shining
All because of you.

Of thee I sing baby-
You have got that certain thing, baby!
Shining star and inspiration,
Worthy of a mighty nation-
Of thee I sing!

MARY:
Of thee I sing, baby,
Summer, autumn, winter, spring, baby.
You're my silver lining,
You're my sky of blue.
There's a love light shining
Just because of you!

ALL:
All because of you!
Of thee I sing, baby;
You have got that certain thing, baby!

WINTERGREEN:
Shining star and inspiration,
Worthy of a mighty nation-
Of thee I sing!

ALL:
[FACING FRONT]
Of thee I sing, baby,
Summer, autumn, winter, spring, baby!
Shining star and inspiration,
Worthy of a mighty nation -
Of thee I sing!

Mon Sep 12, 2005 4:30 pm MST by robertll | Email Article |

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Belated Anniversary Memorial