"This Is My Country" is an American patriotic song composed in 1940. The lyrics are by

Don Raye Don Raye (born Donald MacRae Wilhoite Jr., March 16, 1909 – January 29, 1985) was an American songwriter, best known for his songs for The Andrews Sisters such as "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar", " The House of Blue Lights", "Just for a Thr ...

and the music is by Al Jacobs.

Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians Fredrick Malcolm Waring Sr. (June 9, 1900 – July 29, 1984) was an American musician, bandleader, and radio and television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing". He was also ...

were the first to record the song, in 1942. The song has played at the end of

Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort, also called Walt Disney World or Disney World, is an entertainment resort complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States, near the cities of Orlando and Kissimmee. Opened on October 1, 1971, th ...

and

Disneyland Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney in ...

fireworks shows.

Lyrics

The song begins slowly, opening with this introductory verse: :What difference if I hail from North or South :Or from the East or West? :My heart is filled with love :For all of these. :I only know I swell with pride :And deep within my breast :I thrill to see

Old Glory Old Glory is a nickname for the flag of the United States. The original "Old Glory" was a flag owned by the 19th-century American sea captain William Driver (March 17, 1803 – March 3, 1886), who flew the flag during his career at sea an ...

:Paint the breeze. A second, rarely performed, verse reads, :With hand upon my heart, I thank the Lord for this, my native land, for all I love is here within her gates :My soul is rooted deeply in the soil on which I stand, for these are mine, my own United States! It then swings into a march tempo for the chorus. The song is made notable by the fact that it honors both Americans by birth and choice. The first chorus reads: :This is my country :Land of my birth :This is my country :Grandest on Earth While the second chorus (sung on a repeat, as the introduction is usually not repeated) instead reads: :This is my country :Land of my choice :This is my country :Hear my proud voice. Both versions join together at the ending: :I pledge thee my allegiance :America the bold :For this is my country :To have and to hold

References

1940 songs American folk songs American patriotic songs Songs written by Don Raye Songs written by Al Jacobs {{Folk-song-stub