Hymns for Youth ‎#166

166. O Beautiful for Spacious Skies

1. O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

2. O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

3. O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine.

4. O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

Text Information

• First Line: O beautiful for spacious skies
• Title: O Beautiful for Spacious Skies
• Author: Katherine L. Bates, 1859-1929
• Meter: C M D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1966

Tune Information

• Name: MATERNA
• Composer: Samuel Ward, 1848-1903
• Meter: C M D
• Incipit: 55335 52234 5675
• Key: B♭ Major
• Copyright: Arrangmement of music from Singing Juniors of Our Singing World Series, copyright 1953, Ginn and Company. Used with permission.