Irving Berlin wrote a song in 1918 but rewrote the song years later as a prayer for peace.   The title of the song is God Bless America. I’m sure you are familiar with this well-known patriotic song, but you might not know that there were spoken words before the first sung lyric, “God Bless America.” Kate Smith, who made it famous, did say them, but now they are rarely ever heard.

I have always wondered why they stopped including the 4 lines of spoken prayer before singing the song. In any case, in honor of 9-11, may we gather and pray and sing the following:

Spoken Introduction:

“While the storm clouds gather far across the sea

Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. ”

Song:

God bless America

Land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Throughout the night, with a light from above

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