In early 1940, Kate Smith, a fiercely patriotic American, and the biggest star on radio, was deeply worried about her country.

She asked Irving Berlin if he could give her a song that would re-ignite the spirit of American patriotism and faith. He said he had a song that he had written in 1917, but never used it. He said she could have it.

She sat at the piano & played it and realized how good it was. She called Mr. Berlin and told him that she couldn't take this from him for nothing. So, they agreed that any money that would be made off the song would be donated to the Boy Scouts of America.

Thanks to Kate Smith and Irving Berlin, the Scouts have received millions of dollars in royalties.

This clip is from the movie "You're in the Army Now". You will see a familiar face in this—one that we are all very proud of.

Frank Sinatra said that when Kate Smith, whom he considered the greatest singer of his age, first sang this song on the radio, a million guys got 'dust' in their eyes and had to wipe the tears the 'dust' caused.

If you can watch and listen without 'dust' getting in your eyes, you have no soul. Sit back and enjoy a Real Star.


YouTube - Kate Smith introduces God Bless America

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Grew up watching her. When the only thing remote was something far away, and the only cable was used to tie the dog up.
Don't miss her, but the tune would have been a better choice for a national anthem than the current one.

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Pete.

Irving Berlin was such an gifted man. Didn't he marry the granddaughter of John McKay the Bill Gates of the 1890's? She was disowned for it.
Great post - thanks for the history. You sometimes don't think about how things came about.

One of the Greatest!
Time to take America back and make it what it once was!

Wonderful!! I think Irving Berlin and Kate Smith auditoned it for Pres Roosevelt in the white house; Irving Berlin played the piano and Kate Smith sang. FDR said something like "This is it".

I remember it in a different movie. I think it was "This is the Army". It was late at night ( or early in the morning), I was half asleep, browsing through the channels, Kate Smith, all 300 lbs of her, stood up and belted it out with a background of soldiers in uniform. The hair stood up on the back of my head!

Looked at some of the others singing this song. Damn!! Now I can't go to sleep with this song ringing in my ears.

Darn it must have gotten dust in my eye's

Gives me the chills listening to it. My father was an Army Vet who spent years in the ETO. He was called up for Korea but never had to go. My grandmother used to babysit for me as my mother had to go back to work. We listened to Kate Smith all the time on a gigantic radio, and then a very small TV. Makes you wonder why we're all not working in war production factories.

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SOS USA