God Bless America

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 seaLet us swear allegiance to a land that's freeLet us all be grateful for a land so fairAs we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. "Song:God bless AmericaLand that I loveStand beside her and guide herThroughout the night, with a light from aboveFrom the mountains, to the prairiesTo the oceans white with foamGod bless AmericaMy home, sweet homeGod bless AmericaMy home, sweet home