next to of course god america i
E. E. Cummings (1894-1962)
from Tulips and Chimneys, published 1923
Song setting by Winfield Shaw Clark
next to of course god america i
love you land of the pilgrims’ and so forth oh
say can you see by the dawn’s early my
country tis of centuries come and go
and are no more what of it we should worry
in every language even deafanddumb
thy sons acclaim your glorious name by gorry
by jingo by gee by gosh by gum
why talk of beauty what could be more beaut-
iful than these heroic happy dead
who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter
they did not stop to think they died instead
then shall the voice of liberty be mute?”
He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water
This poem is now in the public domain. Song setting © 2004 Winfield Clark, all rights reserved. The music score for high voice and piano and the mp3 may be downloaded without charge. Permission for not-for-profit performance of this song is freely given.
next to of course god america i - Sheet Music (421.41 KB)
