General Discussion

pangaia

(24,324 posts)

23. God Bless America is really prayer written by Irvng Berlin, originally in 1918.

Sun Oct 27, 2013, 11:23 PM

Oct 2013

Then, in 1938, he added the intro.
BOLD is mine.

"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."

There is lots of historical info here-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_America

At a minor league game several years ago, very low minor league, small ball park, I got up after the top of the 7th to go to the can and get something to eat. They started playing GBA. I was wearing the home team baseball cap and just kept walking. As I started to walk out under/between the stands, some old fart leaned over the ledge above me, shouted take off that hat, you Commie! He then spit on me. Rather than climbing the stairs and punching his fucking face in, after which I probably would have had the living hell beat out of me by his buddies, I told the general manager about it. He followed me back inside, I pointed the guy out to him and he threw him out.
But, I now always either make a fast exit or give in and 'uncover."

Plus, they always play Take me Out To The Ballgame after the prayer.

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I really hate "god bless america" at every fucking ball game. [View all] Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 OP

I put it on mute alcibiades_mystery Oct 2013 #1

Agreed........ Capt.Rocky300 Oct 2013 #3

I put on mute and go open another beer. broiles Oct 2013 #66

I am more of a fan of the round of "Take Me Out To the Ballgame" that always ScreamingMeemie Oct 2013 #2

It's a perfect song for boosters of baseball as a professional sport. Loudly Oct 2013 #25

Here you go. 11 Bravo Oct 2013 #48

Fond childhood memories of Mom singing that song in the car during roadtrips. adirondacker Oct 2013 #113

. ScreamingMeemie Oct 2013 #135

That's awesome! My grandparents weren't big sports fans for whatever reason. adirondacker Oct 2013 #139

I would say 83.4% of people just give it lip service snooper2 Oct 2013 #4

Agreed 100 percent. The fetishization of the military at sporting events is bizarre as well. Brickbat Oct 2013 #5

I had a man demand that my son remove his hat during "God Bless America" once... ScreamingMeemie Oct 2013 #11

God Bless America is really prayer written by Irvng Berlin, originally in 1918. pangaia Oct 2013 #23

That's interesting. ScreamingMeemie Oct 2013 #34

You are too kind. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #83

Of course, if you're former military, you can leave that feed cap on and "hand salute" now... MADem Oct 2013 #118

?????? Niceguy1 Oct 2013 #6

No it hasn't... truebrit71 Oct 2013 #7

ih, confused Niceguy1 Oct 2013 #13

No worries... truebrit71 Oct 2013 #14

So did James Taylor Capt. Obvious Oct 2013 #73

It's a 7th inning stretch tune OmahaBlueDog Oct 2013 #36

Not so. evlbstrd Oct 2013 #8

That's right.... Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #84

I think your phone is acting up. ScreamingMeemie Oct 2013 #9

James Taylor sang America the Beautiful in Boston. El Supremo Oct 2013 #10

When? He was sang The Star Spangled Banner Ilsa Oct 2013 #31

He did that during one of POTUS' inaugural events too ... Myrina Oct 2013 #60

During the seventh inning stretch >> El Supremo Oct 2013 #68

That avatar appears familiar. TexasTowelie Oct 2013 #38

That was pipi_k Oct 2013 #62

God bless you, Warren pintobean Oct 2013 #12

I can't stand it!!! Initech Oct 2013 #15

Why? lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #16

Well for starters it is a stupid mindless nationalist ditty, plus officially we are a secular nation Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #21

Watch out or Yahweh will smite your sorry ass. Arugula Latte Oct 2013 #102

It praises America and mentions God. n/t Skip Intro Oct 2013 #37

It is the de facto national anthem for the nationalist christian theocratic right. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #40

I think it's a lousy song no matter who sings it. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #85

You have my deepest sympathy. I will keep you in my thoughts (nt) Nye Bevan Oct 2013 #17

Noxious and obnoxious comment, though not unexpected. HERVEPA Oct 2013 #79

Thanks for the valuable feedback. Nye Bevan Oct 2013 #80

You're totally welcome. HERVEPA Oct 2013 #90

Par for the course. morningfog Oct 2013 #94

That one walks a fine line. HERVEPA Oct 2013 #101

An obvious troll pintobean Oct 2013 #119

That's not why. morningfog Oct 2013 #141

Nice. Pray for me too. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #86

My solution DireStrike Oct 2013 #18

I agree sweetapogee Oct 2013 #20

We should ask God to bless the WHOLE WORLD!! Then we wouldn't have wars!! JEFF9K Oct 2013 #19

Or stop pretending that there is a god of baseball... Orsino Oct 2013 #70

Or just stop pretending that there is a god, period. Arugula Latte Oct 2013 #103

+1 Go Vols Oct 2013 #117

And nations... and economics... and philosophies... LanternWaste Oct 2013 #130

Never failing to bore. cordelia Oct 2013 #133

I bet the ballplayers hate it even more Brother Buzz Oct 2013 #22

It's such a shitty song. La Marseillaise, now that's an anthem, Russia's isn't bad, England's has Egalitarian Thug Oct 2013 #24

It's not the anthem. nolabear Oct 2013 #26

Jimi Hendrix national anthem. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #27

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLLLLL GAME!!! Iggo Oct 2013 #28

Wish it were the national anthem, that or America the Beautiful Rstrstx Oct 2013 #29

Agreed. Thinly disguised RW ( pro-nationalist, pro-religion) propaganda. n/t Smarmie Doofus Oct 2013 #30

Do people stand up during this? enlightenment Oct 2013 #32

Yes, they stand. Ino Oct 2013 #46

Well, I guess I'd be enlightenment Oct 2013 #57

I would absolutely not stand for God Bless America. cui bono Oct 2013 #104

When I am at a game, I ensure I am just getting back from the snack bar when the song starts. cleanhippie Oct 2013 #136

And basketball games PasadenaTrudy Oct 2013 #52

Neither would I. enlightenment Oct 2013 #55

Keep in mind that Irving Berlin was a refugee from Russia in the 1890s grasswire Oct 2013 #33

Keep in mind that Irving had been dead for decades when suddenly idiots started Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #39

times have changed grasswire Oct 2013 #71

It's different thing for someone to feel that way cui bono Oct 2013 #106

I'll take GBA over John Fogarty singing this nails-on-chalkbard tune any day OmahaBlueDog Oct 2013 #35

Kate Smith, 1974 Staney Cup Championship ... just for you ... no OBL required. JoePhilly Oct 2013 #41

a) no ball involved. b) not done every game everywhere c) not wrapped in militarism. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #42

Major Sport Championship ... (the stuff some folks here flip out about is hilarious). JoePhilly Oct 2013 #43

Whatever you do pintobean Oct 2013 #44

Bwahahahaha!!! JoePhilly Oct 2013 #49

I really miss "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" MissMillie Oct 2013 #45

MLB owners are Republican assholes. I hate the version they play geek tragedy Oct 2013 #47

Actually, I like God Bless America Fla Dem Oct 2013 #50

I do to gopiscrap Oct 2013 #51

Glad you are able to release some of your hate here. NCTraveler Oct 2013 #53

They should stop with the God Bless America thing, AND truebluegreen Oct 2013 #54

I love This Land is Your Land. djean111 Oct 2013 #58

I agree completely. truebluegreen Oct 2013 #67

I interpret the Star Spangled Banner differently, as if it's a question ... Myrina Oct 2013 #64

I might agree, except for the rest of the lyrics. truebluegreen Oct 2013 #69

Yes! It drives me crazy Myrina Oct 2013 #75

What Do You Do When Jose turns to you Wolf Frankula Oct 2013 #146

Yes, it's not a good song for a national anthem treestar Oct 2013 #142

It's a way better song the God Bless the USA kydo Oct 2013 #56

It really confuses me at hockey games .... Myrina Oct 2013 #59

when the buffalo sabres play a canadian team they always sing the anthems of both countries. nt dionysus Oct 2013 #91

Wow, nice to know!! Myrina Oct 2013 #93

i'm not big on sports but when i listen on the radio they always do it... i don't know about any dionysus Oct 2013 #95

Color me corrected! Myrina Oct 2013 #144

Its pretty much standard SpartanDem Oct 2013 #145

Yeah, it has run its course IMO.... Blue_Tires Oct 2013 #61

That's what I was thinking... how would it end? Perhaps a lawsuit is needed. n/t cui bono Oct 2013 #109

And that Stand Up to Cancer thing last night was hoaky, commercialized bullshit AngryAmish Oct 2013 #63

But think of all the jobs it creates at the pink ribbon factory... penultimate Oct 2013 #72

Go take a piss or get another beer. Problem solved. Throd Oct 2013 #65

Your outrage has been noted. kiawah Oct 2013 #74

I'm not sure if they sing that at the Twins new ball park. MineralMan Oct 2013 #76

Check out a St. Paul Saints game. cloudbase Oct 2013 #107

Yah, I go to a few of those each year. MineralMan Oct 2013 #124

Get over it Boom Sound 416 Oct 2013 #77

Agreed. Jingoistic claptrap. dorkzilla Oct 2013 #78

I haven't said the pledge since I was a sophomore in high school. I always stand up, though. Shrike47 Oct 2013 #82

I remember the Jehovah's Witnesses' Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #87

Repulsive indeed. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #81

Good for you for fighting back. Nye Bevan Oct 2013 #89

Thank you. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #92

Oh, and welcome to DU. Nye Bevan Oct 2013 #98

Thank you again. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #99

welcome to DU taught_me_patience Oct 2013 #123

Thank you t_m_p! Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #125

sad. n/t taught_me_patience Oct 2013 #121

I don't believe in god, but I love that song. bigwillq Oct 2013 #88

It's fucking pointless to play it during sporting events. Vashta Nerada Oct 2013 #96

you should have much greater concerns nt arely staircase Oct 2013 #97

Of course. "under god" in pledge and "in god we trust" on currency. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #100

yes. pressing issues arely staircase Oct 2013 #108

Ohhh, "pressing" issues. My mistake. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #110

I'm sure the OP does. Arugula Latte Oct 2013 #105

absolutely arely staircase Oct 2013 #111

Yes, hilarious. Just like the story Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #116

us that the one where someone claims they were spat on? arely staircase Oct 2013 #120

No. Please see #11. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #122

why would I do that? arely staircase Oct 2013 #127

Hmmm. Have a great day. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #128

I imagine concern for A rarely denies concern for B, C, and D... LanternWaste Oct 2013 #131

I think you realize my post wasn't meant to be taken literally arely staircase Oct 2013 #137

So do I--never thought I could dislike a song so robustly. MADem Oct 2013 #112

Out of curiosity: I saw a few posters mention 'Sweet Caroline' panader0 Oct 2013 #114

I do believe it is limited to Fenway Park. Missn-Hitch Oct 2013 #126

You'd have point if it was played at every game, but it isn't SpartanDem Oct 2013 #115

The Cincinnati Reds still play it IIRC. Boomerproud Oct 2013 #129

Seriously? What total crap. I also hate how they made 9-11 "Patriot day" quinnox Oct 2013 #132

Such trials and tribulations. cordelia Oct 2013 #134

Don't blame it on bin Laden. . . markpkessinger Oct 2013 #138

I don't mind it treestar Oct 2013 #140

It's still just about America for a lot of folks. gulliver Oct 2013 #143