How To Play God Bless America

This is a very cool arrangement of a popular song by Irving Berlin. It's pretty famous. In fact, it's one of my aunt's favorites. Wherever you are this holiday weekend, I hope your hearts are filled with thanksgiving and praise for this great country of ours. Keep praying for one another and sing loudly!

God Bless America

Words and Music by Irving berlin

Key of F
4/4 Time, Moderately

© 1938 Irving Berlin

Intro

Bb  F/A  C7/E  F  A7/C#  Dm  Gm7
F/C  C7  F  Fmaj7/A  Gm7  C7

Verse (Freely)


F               F#dim           Gm     C7                 F
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, 
Dm                   Bb6       C7                   F
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, 
           F#dim    Gm    E7                Am
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, 
F6/A    Ab7b5      C/G  Em  Dm7  G7  C7  Eb7  C7/E
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. 

Chorus (Moderately)

F                 G#dim  C7/G  C7
God Bless America, 
                    F  F7
Land that I love. 
               Bb         Gm7b5
Stand beside her, and guide her 
Dm7        G9               C7            F6
Thru the night with a light from above. 
                 C7                        F
From the mountains, to the prairies, 
            C7                          F  Ab/Gb  Cm/G  F7/A
To the oceans, white with foam 
Bb    F/A  C7/E F  A7  Dm
God bless America,  
Gm7  F/C   C7   F7  Ab/Gb  Cm/G  F7/A
My home sweet home.
Bb  F/A  C7/E  F  A7  Dm
God bless America, 
Gm7  F/C  C7    F
my home sweet home

Chord Progressions

L.H. / R.H.

Intro


Bb = BbBb/DFBbD
F/A = AA/CFC
C7/E = EE/CGBb
F = FF/CFA
A7/C# = C#C#/AEG
Dm = DD/ADF
Gm7 = GG/DFBb
F/C = CC/CFA
C7 = CC/BbEG
F = FF/ACF
Fmaj7/A = AA/CEFC
Gm7 = GBb/DFC
C7 = CBb/CEC

Verse

F = F/CFA
F#dim = F#/EbAC
Gm = G/DGBb
C7 = E/BbCG
F = FF/CFA
Dm = DD/ADF
Bb6 = BbBb/GDG
C7 = CC/BbEG
F = FF/ACF
F#dim (same as above)
Gm (same as above)
E7 = G#/DEB
Am = AA/EAC
F6/A = AA/CDF
Ab7b5 = AbAb/CDF#C
C/G = GG/CEGC
Em = EE/GBE
Dm7 = DD/FAC
G7 = GF/GBD
C7 (same as above)
Eb7 = EbEb/BbDbG
C7/E = EE/BbC

Chorus

F = FF/ACF
G#dim = G#G#/FBD
C7/G = GG/EBbE
C7 = CC/EBbC
F (same as above)
F7 = FF/ACEb
Bb = BbBb/DFBb
Gm7b5 = GG/DbFBb
F/C = CC/CFA
Dm7 = DD/ADF
G9 = GG/BA
C7 = CC/BbCEG
F6 = FF/ACDF
C7 = CC/BbCEG
F = FF/ACFA
C7 = CC/CEGBb
F  (same as above)
Ab/Gb = GbGb/AbC
Cm/G = GG/CEbGC
F7/A = AA/CEbFC
Bb = BbBb/DFBbD
F/A = AA/CFC
C7/E = EE/CGBb
F = FF/CFA
A7 = C#C#/AEG
Dm = DD/ADF
Gm7 = GG/DFBb
F/C = CC/CFA
C7 (same as above)
F7 (same as above)
Ab/Gb (same a above)
Gm7 (same as above)
F/C = CC/CFA
C7 (same as above)
F = FF/ACF, FCA/FACF

So, if you're looking for music software with rhythm beats to jam with, you might want to read up on Back Pocket Band Software.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful 4th of July!

All the best,

-- LadyD

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

Ten Years Later: 9/11-11

Flowers by the Sea

 9/11 is a very personal memory for me. You see, my friend Tom McGuinness was the Co-Pilot on that day, the first plane to hit the tower. He and his wife and their two kids, Tommy and Jennifer went to our church (Riverview). Many times I saw their smiles out in the lobby and at a friend's home fellowship group. All that changed on 9/11, as you know. They had 2 Memorial services for Tom, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast at my church. I played the keyboard, along with the worship team, as my best friend Beth sang "God Bless America," while watching a very brave wife, Cheryl and her son and daughter, sitting in the front row. 

Many of the  military representatives were there, along with the news media and after our song, Cheryl (a very brave woman) made her way for the stage to share her thoughts to a crowd that overflowed from the church, out over the lawn, to the parking lot.  Tom's wife shared that it was a normal morning of having breakfast, sharing devotions,  hugging one another, saying goodbye with a  tender, "I love you."

Little did she know at that moment she'd be saying goodbye to her husband for the very last time. You know the rest of the story. Where were you when the towers were hit? It is indeed a time for solemn reflection and prayer today. You know, everyone knew someone that was in this terrible tragedy. I thank you for listening to my story. Please say a prayer for the Mc Guinness family and for all, especially the United States of America. May it be a peaceful day for us all.

 In honor of Tom McGuinness

Hopefully, you'll be able to hear us on the music file at https://soundcloud.com/ladyd-piano/911-tribute.

Irving Berlin
God Bless America lyrics

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:

God bless america , land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through 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.

-- Irving Berlin

I think my favorite clip that touches my heart is the song from Alan Jackson. How about you?

 

Chords to God Bless The U.S.A

(Words and Music by Lee Greenwood)

Intro:  D    F#m7    Em7    A    D    F#m7    Em7    A

     D              F#m7
If tomorrow all the things were gone
    Em
I'd worked for all my life,
      C
And I had to start again
             Em              A
with just my children and my wife,
    D              F#m7
I'd thank my lucky stars
      Em7           Bm
to be livin' here today.
          Em                    C
Cause the flag still stands for freedom
         Bm                      G
And they can't take that away.

        A
And I'm proud to be an American
         G                D
Where at least I know I'm free
      A
And I won't forget the men who died
    G                  D
Who gave that right to me
             Bm       D                 G                D
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
            G                D
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
    G         A D
God bless the USA

Interlude:  F#m7    Em7    A    D    F#m7    Em7    A

         D             F#m
>From the lakes of Minnesota
       Em
To the hills of Tennessee
 C
Across the plains of Texas
     Em             A
>From sea to shining sea
     D               F#m7
>From Detroit down to Houston
    Em7          Bm
And New York to LA
             Em              C
Well there's pride in every American heart
        Bm                       G
And its time we stand and say

         A
That I'm proud to be an American
         G                D
Where at least I know I'm free
      A
And I won't forget the men who died
    G                  D
Who gave that right to me
             Bm       D                 G                D
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
            G                D
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
    G         A D
God bless the USA

        A
And I'm proud to be an American
         G                D
Where at least I know I'm free
      A
And I won't forget the men who died
    G                  D
Who gave that right to me
             Bm       D                 G                D
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today
            G                D
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
    G         A D
God bless the USA

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God Bless The USA

by Lee Greenwood

E                                       A
If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
     F#m7                             D               B7
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
    E                          Abm7
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today
           F#m7                                       C#m           A
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away

Chorus
        B                                A                E
And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free
      B                                  A                E
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
                C#m       Abm7             A                Abm7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you, and defend her still today
             F#m7             E                   A     B     E      
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,
From Detroit down to Houston, from New York to LA,
Well there's pride in every American heart, 
And it's time we stand and say,

         B                                 A                E
That I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free,
         B                               A                  E
And I won`t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
                C#m       Abm7            A               Abm7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today,
       F#m7                   E                   A           C#m / A
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA
        B                                 A                E
And I'm Proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free,
      B                                  A                 E 
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me,
                C#m       Abm7            A                Abm7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today,
             F#m7             E                    F#m7   Abm7 A  B7  E
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God  bless  the  U  S   A 

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God Bless The USA (This is the key I play)

by Lee Greenwood

F                                      Bb/F
If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
     Gm7                            Eb7               C7
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
   F                         Am7
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today
           Gm7                                       Dm           Bb
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away

Chorus
        C/E                                Bb/D                F
And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free
      C/E                                 Bb/D                F
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
                Dm      F/A             Bb                Am7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you, and defend her still today
             Gm7             F/A                   Bb     Gm7/C  F      
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,
From Detroit down to Houston, from New York to LA,
Well there's pride in every American heart, 
And it's time we stand and say,

        C/E                                 Bb/D                F
That I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free,
         C/E                              Bb/D                  F
And I won`t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me
               Dm      F/A           Bb               Am7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today,
       Gm7                   F/A                  Bb           Gm7/C F
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA
       C/E                                 Bb/D                F
And I'm Proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free,
      C/E                                  Bb/D                 F 
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me,
                Dm       F/A           Bb                Am7
And I'll gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today,
             Gm7            F/A                    Gm7   Am7 Bb  C7  F
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God  bless  the  U  S   A 

Stop by and see this free music resource:
4 Free Video Lessons & Sequence

Blessings,

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King