and the home of the brave

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.

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.

O beautiful for patriot dream, that sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law.

Words: Katharine Bates, 1904. Music: Samuel Ward, 1882