copyright © 2003 John Shirley
This piece, set to the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner" should be sung with total conviction and reverence. The lyrics are not meant either to protest war or to support it, but to celebrate the American spirit and the willingness of the American people to fight and even to die to defend their nation and its heritage, their freedoms and beliefs.
Lights up on performer(s), hand(s) on chest(s), to salute the spirit of America and her people.
O, say, did you see, in the dusk of twilight,
The dust and rubble which lay at our fair cities' feet -
Once glass tow'rs and stone walls, now crumbled like fall leaves?
A shocked nation went numb and stumbled into the night,
But with courage and pride, with her arms open wide,
America proved that her heart was still there.
Oh, God, may that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, say, did you see, early Wednesday morning,
The slow sunrise which rose upon a nation in black,
When heavy darkness succumbed to motions of light -
Over a nation that mourned for its fallen children?
With the torch as a guide, with their arms open wide,
Her people refused to turn their backs on life.
Oh, God, may that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, say, did you hear, rumbling like the thunder,
The dark stories of fear and tales of courage and faith,
The new anthem of a land united in prayer?
Did you watch the hundreds who labored to affirm life -
Or the thousands who gave, offered food, blood, and time?
The eagle was bruised but continued to fly.
Though tattered, that star-spangled banner still waved
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O, let it be known that no steel blade can slice
Through the American cloth that no man can divide.
Men stand willing to die, anoint freedom in blood,
Make the same sacrifice made by so many before.
But our children must learn why the passion still burns,
Gives life to the light that is Liberty's flame.
Praise God that that star-spangled banner yet waves
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
"O'er the Land of the Free"
IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE
DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED
WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR
Performed by Kendra Clarke
Performed by Amy Alls
Library]
