by June Griffin

Unequivocally, our music can prove this nation to be Christian. The following words from the song, Americanism, by Levi Funk, New York, Willis Woodward & Co.,1906, is fitting for Independence Day. Before the  clamor of the 60's which passed for music, composers had to present substance, inspiration and melody and were naturally patriotic. For this special American celebration, it was hard to choose from "Don't Bite the Hand that's Feeding You" or other red-blooded American music but the beautiful song, Americanism, prevailed.

Our fathers came across the sea, to the New World's eastern shore,
They came to found True Liberty, and light the whole world o'er,
And tyranny's oppressive ways, they left them all behind;
And on the Bible founded laws with Freedom for mankind.
That Bible true, that sacred word, by which we live and die -
Grand Rock on which to found the laws, that will the world defy.
They planted seed that quickly grew, from the Atlantic gates -
America, America! These great United States -
All praise to Christianity, let the Bible rule o'er land and sea.

A grand new era's then begun, free from all tyranny,
With education, freedom and religious liberty -
Which will extend throughout the world, and may God speed the day
For once True Liberty is fledged, no tyrant can it stay.
From foreign ideas, we must free, and place them under ban,
And inculcate then only those that are American;
Then down with foreign customs and all that contaminates -
America, America, Our pure United States -
Then all will know True Liberty when none's oppressed o'er land and sea.

All hail our free America, the land we love so well!
Eternal principles of right within thy domain dwell;
Behold free speech and a free press, where a pure ballot rules,
A Christian Sabbath, equal rights, the Bible and free schools;
Where special priv'lege none shall have, but a square deal to all,
Where strong and weak can fair compete with none crushed to the wall.
See how we stand before the world - the world now emulates
America, America! Our grand United States.
Then loudly sing with joy will we when Sabbath's kept o'er land and sea.

From all the nations of the world, we welcome but the one
Who'll leave all foreign customs and adopt American,
Who'll swear allegiance to our flag with honest heart and hand,
And not attempt to foreignize our pure and Christian land.
From Atlantic to Pacific, and Lakes down to the Gulf,
For patriotic millions, ah, behold there's room enough,
But not an inch of ground to spare to him who derogates
America, America! Our loved United States -
Then let us work till all shall be Americanized, o'er land and sea.

We fear no foes that dwell without, but we have foes within--
As brib'ry, graft, monopolies, and all their thievish kin,
Which will conspire, oppress, enslave, and sap the Nation's blood,
Then as such foes shall germinate - must be nipped in the bud.
Then let us sow what we should reap, and reap what's justly sown,
For each patriot's a freeman, and feels his roof's his own.
And will defend against such foes and their confederates
America, America! Our free United States.
Then we can sing of honesty when none is bribed o'er land and sea!

This freeman's land, this liberty, these institutions dear,
The purchase of our patriot's blood - whose mem'ry we revere -
Transmitted to our faithful care to love, enjoy, defend.
And to posterity commit, to guard unto the end
Then with our patriotic hearts, our love for liberty,
We'll hand them down to future ones in all their purity.
Then shoot down all oppressors, or whatever mancipates;
America, America! our dear United States.
Then let our great work always be - help Freedom reign o'er land and sea!
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