"This Is My Country" is an American patriotic song composed in 1940. The lyrics are by Don Raye and the music is by Al Jacobs.

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

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and

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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

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: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