God Bless America Melody - Irving Berlin, 1918; revised 1938 Irving Berlin, 1918; revised 1938 Intro (spoken): 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 the light from above From the mountains To the prairies, To the ocean white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home. :| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- The original version of was written during the summer of 1918 at Camp Upton, located in Yaphank, Long Island, for Yip, Yip, Yaphank. He never used the song and it remained tucked away until 1938. In the fall of 1938, Berlin decided to write a song about peace. He recalled his "God Bless America" from twenty years earlier, altered parts to update popular sentiment, and was introduced to the world on November, 11, 1938, by Kate Smith.