A big Happy 4th of July!!!! to our dear neighbours in the U.S.!
tbh, I didn’t really know any Americans B-D (before David)… and it’s been enlightening, horizon-broadening and downright fun to get to know some of you lovely peeps both online and off. Sending out {{{{hugs & love}}} my friends!
In honour of this special occasion, I’m reposting my tribute to David’s AZ GBA… still one of my all-time faves!
Source: Tumblr/peacelovedavid
This is ridiculous. I can’t get God Bless America out of my head. It’s there at night when I go to sleep and again in the morning when I wake up. Not just any GBA, but David Archuleta’s live version from Arizona. It’s like the red, white and blue earworm from … heck.
I can’t stop replaying it on my iPod either, believe me I’ve tried. I take a break for some TOSOD, some M&S, some Adele, some Pastores, but then I need to hear it again. And again.
Why on earth do I even have an American patriotic song on my iPod??? Makes no sense. I love my U.S. pals to bits but I do not yearn to change my citizenship. I don’t even listen to Canadian patriotic songs — I don’t think we actually have any. It’s just not our thing. (Maybe just one.)
But that’s just it, the way David sings GBA, it doesn’t sound like a patriotic song to me at all. It sounds like a love song. A poignant, intoxicating serenade of love to his home sweet home: “stand beside her and guide her through the night with a light from above.”
When I googled the exact lyrics, two things surprised me. First of all, that it was written by the legendary Irving Berlin (“Blue Skies,” “What’ll I Do?” “Cheek to Cheek,” “White Christmas” etc.) and, secondly, that there are only two verses:
God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
That’s it. That’s all there is. But I could swear, when David sings it, there’s so much more to the song. I get swept up in the soulful swells and runs and the way he builds to the key-change crescendo then softens down to a tender finish. He repeats the verses, but each time takes you on a whole new ride. And that ending. Lethal. The sweet longing in his “hoooome… sweeeet… hoooome” about breaks my heart.
It’s a love song … that’s why it’s on my iPod … that’s my story, Mr. Border Patrol Officer, and I’m sticking to it.
p.s.
Apparently David sang the National Anthem at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago for their 4th of July event … we don’t have video of the performance, only this photo … and these pics … and these reactions from the crowd in attendance:
The embassy peeps had never heard anything like it…
Even the TV put itself on pause …
That Voice echoed for miles around….
Even the embassy pets were not immune….
Nor were visiting hawt dignitaries….
And this young man felt so moved by the performance that he immediately converted…
to become an American citizen….
God Bless America, God Bless David Archuleta, and may God bless all of you! 🙂
P.P.S.
New pic from the lovely Kari! (thx. Heidijoy for the heads-up! 🙂 )
Hey guys, David here. Remember this hair? Wasn’t it grand?
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 
Omg you are so funny! Love your take on this love song. When I was in the service they play a movie with this song . It brought tears to my eyes . Thanks Debra ! Davis the best at this !
David is the best for sure! Thx. Harold! ❤
Happy 4th of July to our friends across the border!
I also love GBA and one of my favourite versions is by 11-year-old David — brings tears.
Don’t know why I show as anonymous — lol. Wonder if it will work this time. (I’m stenocruiser)
ohmyheck, steno, I had never heard that one! So beautiful!! *sniff*
Love this post !! Thanks so much, I really look forward to each new post. I don’t think I really knew about your site until NA…laughed so hard at those ! Is there a way to look back at old posts?
thanks, Sheebla! I just added a widget at the top of the sidebar (on the right) that will let you go back and see the titles from each month (thought there was one that actually listed the months but in my lameness can’t find it, lol). Hope that helps! 🙂
Thanks!!
Happy 4th of July!!! So happy David got to sing the National Anthem at the Embassy!! Love the reaction of the crowd 🙂 Nobody sings Patriotic songs better than David. New picture on twitter from Team Archie!! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
It’s a Happy 4th! Thanks for the holiday wishes!
Why have I not seen that AZ video before?!?!?!?!!!! How on earth did I miss it? Obviously this is a monumental fan failure, and so embarrassing!! Now I keep muttering random apologies to myself.
It will be hard to make up for my slothfulness, but I am trying. I have already watched it a “few” times, and I sent it to my entire family in a 4th of July greeting. 🙂 (Approximately 4 of them will be very pleased.) Thanks for posting!
you made my day again,pleas don,t stop
Hey Deb…actually that’s only the chorus. Here’s the entire song. 1 verse and the chorus:
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer:
God bless america, land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless america,
My home sweet home.
— irving berlin
🙂 I sang it once in church and no one recognized it till I got to the chorus.
….ALWAYS love your posts and I didn’t know any Canadians until A.D. either. ♥ Yet another reason to love David. ♥♥♥
Happy 4th! lol @ the last caption 🙂
Happy 4TH to all you American peeps!!! I have such awesome memories of celebrating the day at Stadium of Fire >>> 2 years ago already?????
Oh and TOfan>> you are hilarious!!!
Love this wonderful post! Love the videos and yes they amazing….very young David to young man David, simply gorgeous. I also listen to his SOF “My Country Tis Of Thee/America the Beautiful” often. Absolutely love it, makes me teary eyed too as do some of the others. Love your always welcome humour TOfan, haha. I know it brightens many days for peeps.
What a fabulous picture we were blessed with today from Kari!
A very happy 4th of July to all our American friends, hope everyone had a special day!
New post/thread!
🙂