The American Heritage Songs Project
#28 God Bless America
Collier's Magazine (1944, July 8). Cover Art by Frances Tipton Hunter, who was a contemporary of Norman Rockwell.
Sheet Music & Lesson Plan
with additional resources
Sheet Music
"God Bless America" is still under copyright, (and will be until 2060) but can be purchased online or at your local music store. This site is not for profit, so this information is just to be useful to music educators and families seeking sheet music sources.
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A smart arrangement for various instrumental and choral ensembles can be found at JW Pepper.
​For example, this 2-part octavo sells for $2.25 at JW Pepper.com. "God Bless America," Irving Berlin, Arr. Joyce Eilers & Paul Jennings, Hal Leonard Corporation. 2-part octavo 1948447, Supplier ID: 08740038 UPC: 073999400380 https://www.jwpepper.com/god-bless-america-1948421-951553/p
Lesson Plan
In the works!
Video: Irving Berlin sings his composition with Girl and Boy Scouts of America (1968). Berlin donated royalties from "God Bless America" to the scouting programs in America, via the God Bless America Fund.
The Ed Sullivan Show. (2009, September 29). Irving Berlin “God Bless America” on The Ed Sullivan Show. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Vmc-pEyUHTs
Video: Kate Smith introduces America, via radio, to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America."
Inter-Pathé. (2023, June 9). Kate Smith’s Heart-Stirring ‘God Bless America’ – This Is the Army (1943) HD. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/SvUxPIoZf4g?si=qf6kVBVaaSNoMJCE
Berlin, I. & Smith, K. (1939) God bless America. Victor Records. [Audio] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.100010572/.
Berlin, I. C. (1938) God bless America. [Notated Music] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2023871337/.
More Song Sources
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Exit Art's "Reactions" Exhibition Collection [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USZ62-12345]
Nierman, J. (2014) Copyright Lore: Irving Berlin Gives “God Bless America” Royalties to Scouting. Copyright Notices [pamphlet] August, 2014, p. 13. https://www.copyright.gov/history/lore/pdfs/201408%20CLore_August2014.pdf
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316TEES. (2021, October 24). God Bless America: The meaning behind Irving Berlin’s famous song lyrics. McMechan, J. 316BLOG [Blog]. https://www.316tees.com/blogs/316/god-bless-america-meaning
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Review of a picture book titled, God Bless America: The Story of an Immigrant Named Irving Berlin . This site could be useful for Elementary Grades.
https://www.familyfunjournal.com/god-bless-america-the-story-of-an-immigrant-named-irving-berlin/
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